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Gaithersburg adopts updated tree and forest conservation ordinance to align with state mapping and standards
Summary
Council adopted a repeal-and-replace of Chapter 22 (trees and forest conservation) to align city rules with recent state updates, lower the tree-diameter variance threshold to 24 inches, incorporate priority urban forest mapping, and clarify mitigation and timing of covenants; vote was 5-0.
The mayor and city council on June 1 adopted an ordinance repealing and replacing Chapter 22 of the city code (trees and forest conservation) to bring local rules into alignment with recently updated state forest-conservation requirements and the city tree manual.
Nancy Shum, environmental services division chief, told the council the rewrite updates definitions, requires the recorded declaration of covenants prior to building permits for voluntary affordable-unit offerings, and incorporates the state's priority urban forest mapping among the criteria that make an area a priority for retention. One technical change reduces the diameter threshold requiring a removal variance from 30 inches to 24 inches, and the draft clarifies mitigation requirements for priority funding areas versus priority urban forest.
Shum said the planning commission recommended the draft and the public hearing held earlier (open May 4 to May 21) generated no comments that required changes. Council moved and adopted the ordinance by a 5-0 vote.
The council directed staff to update the citys tree manual to reflect the ordinance changes and to ensure administrative materials match the new definitions and procedures.
