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Bothell staff present urban forest assessment showing small net canopy loss, propose code changes to protect larger trees
Summary
City staff told the Parks and Recreation Board that Bothell’s 2015–2023 canopy assessment shows under a 1% net loss (about 60 acres) and recommended code changes, incentives and education to retain trees—most of which are on private property.
At its January meeting the Bothell Parks and Recreation Board heard a presentation from community development staff on the draft Urban Forest Management Plan, which compares 2015 and 2023 canopy data and lays out recommendations to limit future losses.
“Citywide we saw less than a 1% decrease — around 60 acres of tree loss during that period of time,” said Cameron Coven, the staff presenter, summarizing the plan’s central finding. Coven said natural growth offset some losses and that the assessment included both city limits and the urban growth area.
The plan shows roughly 44% canopy cover citywide and emphasizes that most tree canopy is on private property, complicating municipal protection strategies. Coven told the board that planners used the city’s 2023 tree canopy baseline and compared it with 2015 to identify pockets of larger loss near growth centers such as downtown, North Creek and Canyon Park.
To address projected losses the consultant and staff recommended a mix of approaches: tighter development and landscaping standards, incentives for private retention and planting, targeted street-tree plantings, and public education. Coven described specific code changes under consideration, including lowering the threshold for a “significant tree” from 8 inches to 6 inches in diameter and revisiting exemptions for small parcels (currently noted at under 20,000 square feet).
Coven said outreach informed the recommendations: staff held focus groups with developers, environmental groups and neighborhood associations and hosted a public open house where residents consistently pointed to tree loss from new development as a top concern. The presentation also included a street-tree inventory intended to identify planting opportunities on public rights-of-way.
Board members pressed staff on the assumptions behind the projections and on how to protect mature canopy in heavily upzoned neighborhoods. Coven said the plan’s projections apply the observed 2015–2023 loss rate and that code updates planned for the coming year are intended to mitigate part of the forecasted dip. He also noted opportunities to convert impervious surfaces (for example, large parking lots) to tree-friendly uses as a way to increase canopy over time.
The board discussed limits to municipal authority when larger state or regional transportation projects require vegetation removal for environmental or safety work. Coven said the city participates in conversations with those agencies to protect trees when possible but sometimes must accommodate large-scale restoration projects required by court or state mandates.
Next steps: staff will refine the draft plan based on feedback, prepare proposed code amendments and return recommended revisions to council later in the year. The board had no formal vote on the plan at the meeting.
