Council considers city’s first tree conservation designations; two trees nominated under new ordinance

The Charlottesville Tree Commission asked City Council on Feb. 2 to make the first two formal designations under a recently adopted tree conservation ordinance: an American sycamore in Quarry Park and a privately owned white oak on East Jefferson Street adjacent to the Nicholas Lewis House.

Bitzy Waters, the Tree Commission chair (stepping down as chair at the meeting), described the Quarry Park specimen as "130 feet tall" and said the sycamore is the third largest of its species recorded in the Virginia big tree register. The privately owned white oak, nominated as a heritage tree by property owners Mike Bednar and Joe Larson, was described by the commission as more than 16 feet in circumference; the commission said standard age‑estimating methods place that white oak at between 300 and 400 years old.

Under the ordinance staff explained to council, both public and private trees are eligible for nomination; once designated, protected trees cannot be removed or intentionally damaged without council approval except in emergency conditions or where the council finds an overriding public need. The city's arborist reviews nominations and city departments flag potential conflicts before the commission makes recommendations.

No members of the public spoke against the nominations during the public hearing. A council member complimented the commission’s work over the past three years and encouraged private owners and residents who value specific public trees to contact the commission. The Tree Commission said it will return future nominations quarterly and that it plans to bring several additional trees forward for council consideration.

Council proceeded with the matter in the evening agenda; staff indicated the ordinance would set a process for future nominations and protections, and commissioners said they intend to bring additional public and private nominations forward on a quarterly basis.