Council advances Century Code update after heated debate on tree-preservation exemptions and thresholds

The Eau Claire City Council spent more than three hours July 26 debating amendments to a citywide Century Code update — a repeal-and-replace of the land development code that included a contentious set of proposed tree-preservation rules. After several votes on specific amendments, the council moved the whole amended code back to the Plan Commission for review and postponed final action until the commission completes a public hearing and returns recommendations.

Council members and staff repeatedly framed the tree-preservation provisions as attempts to balance long-term canopy protection with housing affordability and development economics. Council Member Schoen, the lead mover of a package of four amendments aimed at narrowing the code———————————'s reach, said she wanted the policy to focus on large-scale land clearing by private developers rather than imposing heavy mitigation costs on small-lot homeowners. "Those early conversations were spurred by instances where large-scale developments…