Shoreline council weighs lower tree‑removal fees, delays final vote until March

Shoreline City Council held a public hearing and extended discussion on Feb. 10 over interim rules and a proposed fee schedule intended to slow loss of large trees while the city completes a longer tree code update.

The council opened a public hearing on Ordinance No. 1031, interim regulations prohibiting removal of nonhazardous trees measuring 60 inches diameter at breast height or greater in Town Center 3 and Town Center 4 zoning districts. Sierra Carson, senior planner, told the council the interim rules were adopted Jan. 27 under state authority for interim zoning regulations and must be the subject of a public hearing within 60 days; the interim rules are effective for six months.

Why it matters: Council members and residents said the city must balance preserving mature canopy trees, which the city’s urban forestry plan and comp plan tie to climate and habitat goals, with the council’s stated priority of adding housing. Staff and residents disagreed over what fee levels would discourage unnecessary removals without blocking small-scale housing projects or home repairs for residents on fixed incomes.

Residents and advocates urged different approaches. Kathleen Russell, speaking for the Tree Preservation Code team, said Shoreline’s tree canopy is about 37 percent and urged a higher fee in lieu for removal of large private trees, proposing…