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Landscape architect urges city to press Board of Forestry for local flexibility on canopy protections
Summary
A landscape architect asked Glendale to support an exemption allowing healthy branches larger than 2–3 inches within a five-foot roof offset to remain, arguing it would preserve canopy and is consistent with local oak protections; council gave unanimous direction to have staff draft a follow-up letter to the Board of Forestry.
Landscape architect Stephanie Landrigan asked the Glendale City Council to send a follow-up letter to the Board of Forestry this week seeking local flexibility in proposed rules that would require removal of any tree branches within a five-foot roof offset. Landrigan argued that healthy branches of 2–3 inches are not combustible “ladder fuel” and that allowing them to remain would preserve tree canopy.
Landrigan told the council the Board of Forestry’s upcoming meeting makes the request time-sensitive and recommended the city seek an exemption that lets local fire and arboricultural judgment weigh branch size and species. "If we allow this, we will have more of a canopy to preserve than if we do not," she said. Council members discussed whether the letter would reaffirm previously expressed positions and requested staff prepare a draft immediately for review and FYI circulation to council before submission.
City staff said the letter can be prepared as a follow-up to prior communications; council members indicated unanimous support for staff to draft and send the follow-up letter. The direction was procedural rather than a formal resolution; staff will draft the letter and circulate it to council.
