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Multiple callers urge stronger tree protections in Seattle's comprehensive plan
Summary
During the June 23 public hearing on Seattle's comprehensive plan and zoning bill, many residents, environmental and health advocates urged the council to strengthen tree-retention standards, close tree-code loopholes and require developers to consider alternative site plans to preserve mature trees while allowing denser housing.
A number of residents, health professionals and environmental advocates urged the Seattle City Council's select committee on June 23 to add stronger, enforceable protections for mature trees to the comprehensive plan and related zoning legislation.
Thomas, a physician with Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility, told the committee that “tree canopies cool our neighborhoods significantly, reducing harms from urban heat islands that disproportionately impact lower income residents,” and called for stronger protections after the 2021 heat dome and 2024 heat records.
Speakers advocated several specific changes: require developers to prepare alternative site plans to retain mature trees, close existing tree-code loopholes that allow removals when protection is judged infeasible, increase planting and retention requirements, and limit hardscape increases that reduce per-lot green space. Judy Bendich and Laura Thorn urged the committee to adopt amendments proposed by the Trees and People coalition and to retain a 30% canopy goal in the comp plan language.
Architects, planners and neighborhood residents offered cross-cutting solutions. Anne Sherwood asked the council to “preserve our existing trees on building housing, amending the plan to include strong tree retention requirements,” and Delia Scholes urged the committee to require developers to present alternatives that prioritize retention of mature trees. Several speakers proposed combining incentives for stacked flats with requirements for increased green space so that density and canopy goals are both achievable.
What the hearing did not decide: The committee did not adopt any changes during the morning session. Many callers asked council staff to close SDCI code loopholes and to consider examples from other cities, such as Portland’s tree-retention framework.
Ending note: Tree protection was a recurring theme across neighborhoods and stakeholder groups; speakers asked the committee to embed stronger, enforceable protections in CB 120993 and the comp plan rather than rely solely on guidelines.
