Tumwater is deliberating abolishing its street tree permitting process to streamline costs.
“The city does not necessarily need to implement a street tree permitting process. We did receive some feedback from an internal city staff stakeholder meeting, [and] they didn't necessarily want to see an additional street tree permitting process,” The Watershed Company’s Environmental Planner Kim Frappier shared.
Frappier led the briefing about the latest developments on the Street Tree Plan during a joint session of the Tumwater Tree Board and the Planning Commission last Tuesday, February 14.
Planning Manager Brad Medrud asked about what can be done to lessen the individual costs in the process of getting a permit to prune street trees.
“To ask the individual to go to the city and get a permit, and then tell them that they've got to get an arborist to tell them how to fix the tree– is to me, ridiculous,” Medrud said.
Medrud raised that the city should handle the expenses to ensure a smooth centralized process aided by experts.
“I would suggest that if maintenance on the tree requires the use of an arborist, then it is [the] city’s responsibility, rather than the responsibility of an individual. The city should either hire an arborist and tell them what needs to be done. And then the city can check on it when they're done,” Medrud said. “We want areas of the city all to look nice. And if you're going to want to regulate that, it has to be done centrally. It can't be done on an individual basis.”
Frappier revealed that the gap analysis before the session indeed showed some people sending comments and suggestions regarding the costs and process of these permits.
“One of the things that we need to determine through this work session and through this drafting process is whether or not you [city council] want to see some kind of permitting or permission process required for major tree pruning that would be detrimental to the health of the tree. This is something that we would outline more clearly in both the street tree plan and the code,” Frappier said.
The Watershed Company’s project team is currently drafting the street tree plan and is planning to integrate the feedback from the planning commission and tree board. The process of granting permits to individuals and groups was discussed during the session.
To avoid additional costs and procedures, Frappier also indicated that permits would only be required for development projects falling under TMC 16.08, or tree removal on private land that is not within the right-of-way.
Frappier also added that the meeting will only collate additional suggestions and comments as recommendations to the city council, “The gap analysis has some suggestions and some topics for discussion, but there have been no decisions made. These are just for points of discussion.”
Frappier encouraged listeners to send written comments or attend the community engagement meetings that they will hold, where their team would disseminate the draft updates to the Tumwater community.
“We're also going to be launching the second round of community conversations at the end of February. If there are any specific topics or questions that you would like us to specifically bring to these meetings, we would also welcome your feedback on that as well,” Frappier added.
The Watershed Company is a team of environmental planners, urban foresters, and ISA-certified arborists tapped by the city council as consultants who will provide recommendations for the drafting of the Street Tree Plan.
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Norwester
Ironic, considering the area outlined on 93rd Ave was once a thick forest.
Saturday, February 18, 2023 Report this
BobJacobs
The biggest problem with street trees is that they destroy sidewalks and curbs. Tearing up and replacing sidewalks every ten years or so is very expensive. The only apparent way to have street trees, which are very desirable for a number of reasons, and not have the expense of sidewalk replacement would be to remove and replant street trees before they do damage. Why is this not being discussed?
Bob Jacobs
Saturday, February 18, 2023 Report this
Southsoundguy
Stop adding sidewalks everywhere.
Sunday, February 19, 2023 Report this
FirstOtter
The way TUmwater is killing every tree it finds, you won't need a permit because there won't be a tree left. Just look at what they've done to the trees they planted on Capitol a few years ago, never mind the lovely ones that were on the intersection of Capitol and Trosper. DOn't worry about the trees...they'll be gone in a few days.
All this is just Tumwater's way of saying we hear your concern and plan to fix it.
They cherry pick the tiny issues without addressing the big ones...the metastasizing warehouses, the multiplying roundabouts, the city's diverting water from those who drink it to Coca Cola, Tumwater's ignoring the Olympia airport soon to start expansion so that we will have 737's coming in over our heads hundreds of times a day.
Sunday, February 19, 2023 Report this
johngreen
A few raised sidewalks is a small price to pay for the health and environmental benefits tress provide us bipeds. Tumwater is not the only city to have raised sidewalks and there are ways to handle them. We just need study and not reinvent the wheels on this issue.
Monday, February 20, 2023 Report this