Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Urban Forestry topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Newberg council adopts updated street tree list, asks for code work session
Summary
The Newberg City Council voted to adopt a new city-approved street tree list intended to improve species selection and placement in rights-of-way and to direct staff to return with recommended code changes on tree removal and replanting requirements.
The Newberg City Council on Monday approved a modernized street tree list aimed at providing more species choices and clearer planting guidance for planter strips and parkways.
City planning staff presented the proposed list, saying the city’s existing preferred street tree list dates to 1992 and includes species now under quarantine and others that have performed poorly in urban conditions. The new list adds small- and medium-sized trees with noted tolerances for drought, poor drainage and proximity to utilities, and links to resource pages from Oregon State University and commercial nurseries.
“Staff would additionally like to amend the code section related to tree removal and replacement in chapter 12 of the Newberg Municipal Code to read more clearly,” the presenter told council, adding that the intended change is to require street tree replacement when a landscape area of a property would fall below the spacing required in NMC chapter 15.42.
Councilors discussed problems staff sees in the field: trees planted too close to sewer inlets or meter boxes, species that outgrow narrow planters and property owners cutting trees in the right-of-way without permits. Staff said the list is designed to reduce those conflicts by recommending trees by planting width, drought tolerance, and suitability under power lines.
Resident Robert Suppy spoke during the meeting and urged the council to resolve ambiguity in the code that has left some homeowners uncertain whether voluntarily planted trees could trigger replacement requirements. “I urge the council to provide a common-sense solution for all homeowners and remove this burden of tree replacement,” he said.
Councilors agreed to adopt the new approved street tree list immediately and asked that staff schedule a future work session to discuss code language and longer-term policy direction. A motion to approve the list passed unanimously.
The council did not adopt final code amendments Monday; staff will return with proposed ordinance language clarifying when replanting is required and how the rules apply to voluntarily planted trees and previously required plantings.
