Mountlake Terrace planning panel reviews draft urban-forest plan, hears costs and next steps

MOUNTLAKE TERRACE, Wash. — The Mountlake Terrace Planning Commission on July 14 reviewed a draft Urban Forest Management Plan that recommends a five-part strategy to protect and expand the city’s tree canopy and outlined budget options to implement the plan.

"We manage almost 7,000 trees, which is actually about a thousand more than we anticipated," said Patrick Hutchins, the city’s environmental programs manager, who presented the plan and the underlying data to the commission. Hutchins said an urban tree‑canopy assessment found about 32 percent of Mountlake Terrace is covered by trees and estimated the canopy delivers roughly $2.5 million a year in environmental benefits across the city.

The plan sets a numeric target and a framework. "We would like to expand our canopy from 32% cover to 37% by 2050," Hutchins said. Commissioners and staff discussed where to focus new plantings, how to retain mature trees and how to measure progress.

Why it matters

The plan frames the urban forest as green infrastructure that reduces stormwater runoff, cools pavement and provides public‑health and property‑value benefits. Hutchins cited an inventory of city‑managed trees — conducted by field crews — and a satellite‑based canopy assessment that together showed a large existing canopy but also opportunities to diversify species and increase tree size and health.

Key findings and targets

- Current canopy: about 32% citywide (combined private and public canopy); city‑managed inventory counts nearly 7,000 trees and reports 98% of those trees are alive, Hutchins said. - Tree condition: about 73% of city‑managed trees are rated in good or excellent condition; plan analysis shows many trees could improve a quality class with active maintenance. - Ecosystem services: city‑managed trees were estimated to provide…