Tree Protection
UPDATE:
On 1/25/10, City Council approved the recommendation from the Design Commission, Urban Forestry Advisory Committee, Planning Commission and staff for revisions to the Tree Protection ordinance.
Documents Available for Review
The draft ordinance will return in 60 days. See below for additional background information.
Public Comment On Revisions To The City's Tree-Protection Ordinance(Removal of Protected Trees on Private Property)
The City of Pasadena is seeking public review and comment on proposals to improve the City's tree protection ordinance. The City has had a tree protection ordinance since 2002. During these six years, requests to remove public trees and protected native, specimen, and landmark trees have gone through a review process. This regulatory review has saved hundreds of trees that might otherwise be removed, and has led to extensive new planting of replacement trees.
Recently, the City's Urban Forestry Advisory Committee—and others—have suggested changes to the ordinance, especially the regulations controlling removal of protected trees on private property. Acting on these suggestions, the City is inviting a cross-section of community-home owners, developers, arborists, architects, board and commission members, neighborhood organizations, and community groups to join in a public discussion about the tree protection ordinance.
Project Schedule
Notice of Public Hearing for Adoption – Revisions To The City's Tree-Protecting Ordinance (Removal of Protected Trees on Private Property)
Subject: The proposed amendments will establish new regulations and procedures for applications to remove protected trees on private property and consist primarily of changes to the Tree Protection Ordinance (Ch. 8.52 P.M.C. City Trees and Tree Protection Ordinance) with some new incentives in Title 17 (Zoning Code) to facilitate the retention of existing mature trees on private property. A full chronology of these proposed amendments and background research can be found below. No new development is proposed: only revisions to an existing ordinance. .
Environmental: The proposed code amendments are categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act under §15061 general rule that CEQA only applies to projects which have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment.
Notice Is Hereby Given that the City Council will hold a public hearing on the project and related environmental documentation. The hearing is scheduled on:
Date: Monday, January 25, 2010
Time: 7:30 P.M.
Place: Council Chambers
City Hall, Room S249
100 North Garfield Avenue, Pasadena, CA
Public Information: Any interested party or their representative may appear at the meeting and comment on the project. Written comments may also be mailed to the City Clerk’s office (100 N. Garfield Ave., Room S228, Pasadena 91101) for transmittal to the City Council. If you challenge the matter in Court, you may be limited to raising those issues you or someone else raised at this public hearing, or in written correspondence delivered to City Council at, or prior to, the public hearing.
For more information about the project and the related environmental documentation or to schedule an appointment:
Contact Person: Emily Stadnicki
Phone (626) 744-4342
E-mail: estadnicki@cityofpasadena.net
Fax: (626) 396-7759
Mailing Address: Design & Historic Preservation Section, Planning & Community Development Department, 175 N. Garfield Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91101
Website: http://cityofpasadena.net/Planning/Design_and_Historic_Preservation/
ADA: In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, listening assistive devices are available with a 24-hour advance notice. Please call (626) 744-4009 or (626) 744-4371 (TDD) to request use of a listening device. Language translation services may be requested with 48-hour advance notice by calling (626) 744-4009.
Documents for Review
Planning Commission’s Advisory Review of Amendments to the Tree Protection Ordinance — Private Tree Removals - (staff report and Attachment A for 11/11/09)
Attachment B: Recommendations for updated list of protected native and specimen trees, October 2009
Advisory Review of Amendments to the Tree Protection Ordinance — Private Tree Removals -(staff report and Attachment A for 9/23/09)
Advisory Review of Amendments to the Tree Protection Ordinance — Private Tree Removals -(staff report for 6/22/09)
Attachments to the 6/22/09 Staff Report
- Attachment A: Recommendations for updated list of protected native and specimen trees, June 2009
- Attachment B: Measuring Multi-trunked trees memo from Cy Carlberg based on The Guide for Plan Appraisal, 9th Edition, February 8, 2005
- Attachment C: Staff report on revisions to tree ordinance for March 30, 2009 joint meeting of the Design Commission and the Urban Forestry Advisory Committee (see below for attachments to 3/30/09 staff report)
- Attachment D: Site plan from Korn Randolph Landscape Architects, June 2009, with projected tree canopy after 30-40 years
Advisory Review of Amendments to the Tree Protection Ordinance - Private Tree Removals(staff report for 3/30/09)
Attachments to the 3/30/09 Staff Report
- Attachment A : Summary of public comment from the October 6th 2008 meeting.
- Attachment B: Public comments submitted via our webpage
- Attachment C: Existing findings for removal of protected trees
- Attachment D: Existing Administrative Guidelines
- Attachment E: DRAFT Updated protected tree list
- Attachment F:Sample Projects with Replacement Tree Canopies 2002-2004
- Attachment G: Canopy Analysis by Korn Randolph
- Attachment H: Examples of appraisals for public street tree removal requests by Public Works (Forestry) staff.
- Attachment I: What Are Those Plants Worth? by Stephen Garton and Larry Tankersley (discussion of appraisal methodology)
Audio of January 12, 2009 Meeting (wma)
Summary of Comments from 1/12/09 (staff report for 1/12/09)
Public Meeting Points for October 6, 2008
Discussion Items Matrix
Summary of Tree Protection Ordinances In Other Cities
Link to Tree Protection Homepage
Summary of Tree Protection Ordinances In Other Cities
Link to Municipal Code - See Title 8.52 - City Trees and Tree Protection Ordinance in Title 8: Health & Safety
Public Comments
VIEW & SUBMIT PUBLIC COMMENTS:
We want to hear from you! View and submit public comment above. You may comment privately by sending an e-mail to the planner below. You may also use this forum to comment on the draft guidelines or any documents posted on this site.
Contact information:
Emily Stadnicki, Senior Planner
(626) 744-4342
(626) 396-7759-fax
EStadnicki@cityofpasadena.net