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Resident criticizes hospital tree removals; city says staff encouraged hazard mitigation but did not mandate clear‑cut
Summary
A Washington Terrace resident accused the city of causing a clear‑cut along hospital property that removed wildlife habitat and shade. City staff said code enforcement documented two years of hazard mitigation requests after a July 31 brush fire, but that the hospital — as private property — opted to remove trees and no citations or fines were issued.
Kathleen Cranor, a Washington Terrace resident, told the council on March 3 that recent tree removal along the hospital property has turned the area into a “war zone” and destroyed wildlife habitat and shade. “We never had a problem in the trees,” Cranor said, adding that children once played there and that the removal has increased light and noise for nearby homes. She cited figures she said came from a city report — including 1,329 calls to the fire department in 2025 — and asked why residents were not consulted.
City staff asked to address the concern. Tom, a city staff member who explained the city’s code‑enforcement work, said the city’s code officer had spent roughly two years documenting and urging the hospital to address dead trees, underbrush, overhanging branches and other fire hazards. Tom said those communications aimed to remove hazards, not to require wholesale tree removal, and that the city never issued a citation or fine specifically ordering a clear cut.
Tom pointed to a large brush and tree fire on the hospital’s south property on July 31 that drew multiple regional fire units and heightened concern about risk to nearby homes. He said staff repeatedly encouraged hazard mitigation — trimming, removing deadfall and reducing combustible materials — and maintained detailed records of those contacts. He also said the hospital, as a private property owner, is entitled to make decisions about its land and that no application for exterior building or parking expansion on the west side of the hospital had been filed with the city.
Mayor Allen and other councilmembers expressed sympathy for residents affected by the loss of trees and said they would continue to engage with the hospital and residents to clarify facts and discuss mitigation. Councilmembers asked staff to follow up on questions raised by residents, including possible impacts such as flooding and whether the hospital plans to replant or otherwise soften the site.
The council did not take formal action on the matter during the meeting. Staff said they would be available to speak with residents and work with the hospital and requested that residents contact council members or staff directly for follow‑up.
