Waynesville adopts municipal tree ordinance to protect public trees and create advisory board

The Town of Waynesville adopted a municipal tree ordinance proposed by its Environmental Sustainability Board, directing protection and proactive management of trees on public properties, streets and rights-of-way.

Presenter Kate Curtin described the ordinance’s principal elements: authority for the town to protect and maintain publicly owned trees (it does not cover private property), delegation of oversight responsibility to the director of public works, standardized arboriculture maintenance policies, a required annual tree-maintenance management plan with budget, and the creation of an advisory tree board of up to seven citizens (one member drawn from the sustainability board and the public works director as an ex officio member). Curtin said the ordinance would help Waynesville address urban heat-island effects, conserve stormwater, increase carbon storage, support wildlife habitat and improve aesthetics; the board also described work with a Western Carolina University student project that identified heat islands in the business district with temperature differences of 15–20 degrees in summer imagery.

Councilmembers asked clarifying questions about training and staffing; staff said the deputy director of administration for public works, Bill Skelton, is applying for arborist training and that the town will coordinate maintenance across cemeteries, recreation and streets. Supporters said adoption could restore Tree City USA status and make the town eligible for urban-forest grants. The council voted to adopt the ordinance by voice vote.