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Neighbors press Tualatin to preserve mature Norwood Road trees; developer and staff say they are working on a plan
Summary
Dozens of residents urged the council to protect mature Douglas firs along Southwest Norwood Road during public comment; the developer presented a plan he says preserves trees and staff said they are collaborating to find a solution that meets tree protection and transportation requirements.
Dozens of residents and neighborhood representatives told the Tualatin City Council on Aug. 11 they want the city to preserve mature trees along Southwest Norwood Road as part of an upcoming townhome development proposal.
Speakers, including an ISA certified arborist retained for the project, urged maintaining exterior grove trees and recommended a 13‑foot tree protection zone based on tree diameters. “Interior trees of a stand rely on exterior trees for wind protection and structural stability,” the arborist said, and she warned that construction within root zones can cause widespread stand failure.
Residents recounted earlier failures after the Autumn Sunrise development, where they said outer trees were removed and remaining interior trees later failed in storms, causing outages and property damage. They urged staff and council to accept a site plan that retains the mature stand where feasible rather than defaulting to right‑of‑way standards that would remove trees.
Developer Ken Allen addressed the council and said he has been meeting with staff and the project’s arborist and believes his plan can preserve more trees while still meeting safety requirements. He offered design tradeoffs (decorative rail or other roadway treatments) and suggested he would pursue partnerships, including potential SDC credits, to support protective measures.
City engineer Mike McCarthy and Community Development Director Aquila Herdravitch told the council they are committed to working with the developer and the arborist to identify how walkways, plantings and utilities can be sited to avoid impacts to critical root zones while meeting land‑use and transportation code obligations.
Councilors did not take a land‑use action at the meeting; staff said they are awaiting a revised plan from the developer and will continue collaborative design work.
