Shade Tree Commission seeks meeting with city after planning commission tables ordinance changes

The Athens Shade Tree Commission said it will request a meeting with city administration and planning staff after the planning commission tabled proposed ordinance changes that would affect the commission’s composition and structure.

Commission members said May 8 that tabling the changes does not end the issue and they want to ensure the commission’s expertise is integrated into any revisions. The commission plans to invite planning commission stakeholders, the administration and regional experts, including Anne Bonner of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, to a meeting to “hash these things out,” a commission member said.

Molly Jo Stanley, a member of the Environment and Sustainability Commission who addressed the meeting as a resident, urged the administration to use local expertise. “Planting trees is really great, but maintaining and protecting our mature trees is is the best thing that we can do, for the health of our urban forest,” Stanley said. She identified Anne Bonner as the regional urban forester from ODNR and recommended the administration consult that office and the Shade Tree Commission on best practices statewide.

Another commenter echoed Stanley’s call for a long‑term urban forest management plan and said she looked forward to a meeting “very soon.” Commission members volunteered to be part of the stakeholder group; the chair said he will send an inclusive email to coordinate schedules.

Discussion only: commissioners emphasized outreach and planning rather than proposing immediate counter amendments. Direction: commissioners agreed to request and organize a stakeholder meeting with administration and planning staff and to invite the regional urban forester and the Environment and Sustainability Commission.