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Developers, affordable-housing groups and Trees Atlanta clash over proposed tree-protection ordinance
Summary
Developers and Habitat for Humanity warned a draft City of Atlanta tree protection ordinance would raise costs, reduce housing density and jeopardize affordable projects; Trees Atlanta and environmental advocates said stronger rules are needed to halt rapid canopy loss.
A draft City of Atlanta tree protection ordinance drew sharply divided public comment at the City Council meeting, with affordable-housing builders and developers saying the proposal would make projects infeasible while canopy advocates said the city is losing tree cover too fast. Public commenters asked the council and staff to revise the draft before adoption.
Why it matters: Council consideration of a new tree ordinance could change development costs and the supply of “missing middle” housing while affecting Atlanta’s overall tree canopy, a key factor in heat mitigation and neighborhood environment.
Developers, Habitat for Humanity and industry groups told the council the draft is too prescriptive and would have major unintended consequences. Andrew Gervi, legal counsel and director of real estate for Habitat for Humanity of Greater…
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