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Littleton staff outline forestry code updates and 50% canopy goal as emerald ash borer spreads
Summary
City forestry staff told the Environmental Stewardship Board they will propose code amendments (Title 8 and Title 10) to protect mature trees, scale replacement fees and expand subsidies after discovering Emerald Ash Borer and documenting recent canopy declines.
Mary Brand Dancer, Littleton's city forester, told the Environmental Stewardship Board that the city will propose forestry code updates intended to make tree-preservation rules clearer, enforceable and easier to implement. "We are planning to propose forestry updates in Title 8 and Title 10," she said, describing a package of code language, a public-facing tree manual and a consultant-led redline process.
Why it matters: staff said Littleton's urban tree canopy has declined in recent years and that the city must act to preserve mature trees and close neighborhood equity gaps. The forestry presentation noted a drop in canopy over the prior decade and flagged Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) as an accelerating threat that requires targeted treatment and removal programs.
Staff described several near-term steps. The city has contracted a third-party consultant to consolidate proposed code changes and compare approaches used by similar municipalities, and staff plans public outreach and review by the planning commission followed by council consideration. Mary Brand Dancer said the public comment period and commission review are expected in the coming months, and staff tentatively hopes for adoption in a later quarter pending additional work and coordination.
Emerald Ash Borer and subsidies: staff reported a recent EAB detection and said ash trees represent a meaningful share of Littleton's canopy. Staff noted high demand for the city's 2024 subsidy program, which reimburses up to $500 per household for EAB chemical treatment or hazardous-tree removal.
"Emerald Ash Borer is ... affecting a significant portion of our canopy," Brand Dancer said, explaining why the city has accelerated outreach and treatment eligibility. She added that the subsidy has had "a really high intake" from residents seeking treatment.
Fees and incentives: staff also criticized the current flat in-lieu fee, which charges $500 regardless of tree size and can incentivize removal of large, established trees. Brand Dancer said proposed code revisions will move toward a scaled fee tied to the size of the removed tree and direct remediation funds into the tree-subsidy program to preserve canopy on private property.
Board reaction and next steps: board members asked for clearer, measurable targets and expressed concern that a citywide 50% canopy goal is aspirational rather than immediately enforceable. "50% is an audacious goal," Brand Dancer acknowledged, framing it as a long-term target informed by peer-city benchmarking; Grama, the city's manager of grounds, said the goal is "doable" but requires broad participation from residents, South Suburban and developers.
The city forester emphasized education and neighborhood-scale approaches (tree ambassadors, HOA outreach, and targeted planting clusters) to make preservation work on largely private land. No formal vote was taken; staff requested feedback and will share draft redlines and public materials with boards and the public when available.
