Planning commission reviews Greeley urban forest strategic plan; staff warn pruning and enforcement capacity limited

At a Planning Commission workshop, consultant Dan Karcher of Davey Resource Group presented an urban forest strategic plan for the City of Greeley and described public engagement, canopy findings and recommended initiatives. The presentation and follow-up questions focused on how many trees the city has, how many more the plan models, and whether current staffing and budget will allow the city to meet the plan’s goals.

The plan is based on public engagement that the consultant said reached about 311 community members, stakeholder focus groups and a Speak Up survey. Karcher said survey respondents prioritized shade, improved air quality and beautification; the plan recommends measuring citywide tree canopy every five to 10 years, assembling a recommended species list and focusing new planting where trees will provide the greatest benefit.

The plan’s modeling and recommended initiatives, Karcher said, assume continued growth in residential canopy and additional plantings tied to new development. “We want to build urban forest resilience,” Karcher said, noting the need for species diversity to reduce risk from pests such as emerald ash borer. He also…