Madison plan commission refers street-tree protection ordinance for more stakeholder review

The City of Madison Plan Commission voted unanimously on Aug. 11 to refer proposed amendments to the city’s street-tree protections to the commission’s Aug. 25 meeting to allow additional stakeholder review and clarification.

The item, Legistar 89,254, would amend multiple sections of the Madison General Ordinances to expand the city’s tree protection zone, require professional arborist engagement in many development situations, create a dedicated street tree replacement fund and add stronger permit-based remedies when protected trees are harmed. City arborist Ian Brown presented the proposal, describing large, mature trees as “necessary infrastructure” and urging earlier involvement of Forestry in development projects.

Brown said the ordinance would replace the current single 5-foot protection distance with a size-based approach (one foot of protection radius per inch of trunk diameter), consistent with industry guidance, and would give Forestry more opportunity to guide site work before damage occurs. He told the commission that an inventory by the Wisconsin DNR and the U.S. Forest Service showed roughly 10% of Madison’s trees (those 15 inches or greater in diameter) supply about 53% of the city’s leaf area and thus most canopy benefits.

Brown also described enforcement and compensation mechanisms: the city would be permitted…