Info Type
View Option
Sort by Category
Notification
Does the City Care About Trees? Correction - Email Address
- [Registrant]City of Kenmore
- [Language]日本語
- [Location]Kenmore, WA, US
- Posted : 2023/08/10
- Published : 2023/08/10
- Changed : 2023/08/10
- Total View : 168 persons
- Find local business with Town Guide
-
- Various events to promote Japanese cultu...
-
University of Washington (UW) JSA ( is a Japanese student organization at the University of Washington ) Founded in the early 1990's as a club on campus, JSA is a group of Japanese students who are in...
University of Washington (UW) Japanese Student Association (JSA)
-
- If it's the amount of goods you can send...
-
Trust ・ for "Overseas Moving Service from U.S.A. to Japan" Nittsu has a proven track record of convenience.
Whether you are moving as a single person or as a family, please contact us in Japan... +1 (206) 892-8103NIPPON EXPRESS U.S.A., INC. / Sea Tac / Seattle Branch
-
- We are an accounting firm in the United ...
-
Tax support between Japan and the U.S. ! Speedy procedures and aftercare ! Japanese ・ English either way.
+1 (877) 827-1040Todd's Accounting Services / Mayumi Ozaki (尾崎会計事務所)
-
- Satisfying full service for a nominal fe...
-
Please feel free to contact us if you are thinking of purchasing from other states or Japan. We will be happy to provide you with detailed information in Japanese. Thinking of selling or buying a ho...
+1 (425) 681-4165Ayako Tronson / Better Homes and Garden Macy & Co
-
- Note : There is no school in Seattle. SA...
-
The San Jose campus is now open. With the opening of the San Jose campus, students can now take classes not only at the New York campus, but also at the San Jose campus online. You can take classes wi...
+1 (650) 537-4089SAPIX USA
-
- < Japanese Language Support for Peace of...
-
Our experienced medical team and staff provide the highest level of technical ・ service, and Japanese residents in the U.S. can receive safe and comfortable treatment in a relaxing atmosphere. We also...
+1 (425) 974-8161Bellevue Premier Dental
-
- We provide psychiatric ・ psychotherapy, ...
-
Many Japanese residents in Washington State are exposed to a variety of stresses, including language and cultural barriers, separation from Japanese family and friends, differences in lifestyle, malad...
+1 (201) 809-3508精神科・心療内科医 松木隆志
-
- We bring the joy of reading to you throu...
-
We are a non-profit volunteer organization based in Seattle. We produce and lend free reading CDs to visually impaired Japanese Americans and Japanese Americans living in the U.S., people undergoing m...
Voice Library in Japanese
-
- We are a non-profit animal welfare organ...
-
Founded in 1897, we are a non-profit animal welfare organization that rescues over 6,000 animals a year. Volunteers and donations are always welcome. ・ Animal Rescue ・ Foster Care ・ Shelter Provid...
+1 (425) 641-0080Seattle Humane Society
-
- For all your insurance needs, leave it t...
-
We handle all types of insurance for individuals and businesses. Insurance is very important to be prepared for emergencies. At Daiwa Insurance, we understand the needs of our clients and will help yo...
+1 (310) 540-8595Daiwa Insurance Marketing, Inc.
-
- Please come visit us!
-
The health of Puget Sound and our one world ocean is at stake, and the mission of the Seattle Aquarium has never been more important. We all have an awesome responsibility to protect and restore our m...
(206) 386-4300Seattle Aquarium
-
- Peace of mind for your future plans ・ We...
-
When buying a home, first contact your loan company. Most people will first contact a real estate agent when buying a house. Then, you will probably be asked, "Do you have a Pre-approval Letter? In th...
+1 (206) 679-3371Directors Mortgage, LLC (Mitsuko Miller)
-
- Come join us in preserving and sharing J...
-
We work to be a "place"for all Japanese and Japanese-Americans living in Seattle and interested in Japanese culture" !.
+1 (206) 568-7114Japanese Cultural & Community Center of Washington (JCCCW)
trees update [ https://www.kenmorewa.gov/government/departments/development-services/permits/trees ]
Does the City Care About Trees?
Heck Yeah!
"By Rob Karlinsey, City Manager"
Rightfully so, many Kenmore residents were devastated to learn about the downing of a large Sequioa tree at the site of a future new housing development off of 68th Avenue earlier this month. The site developer argued that the site could not be developed as proposed and less housing units would be built if the tree remained. City staff advocated for the retention of the tree, but when push came to shove, the developer was allowed to remove the tree. Why? Because the City’s current code allows for tree "replacement" in lieu of tree "retention". So the developer will be required to plant a lot of new trees in place of the Sequioa. But we all know that nothing can replace the grandeur, beauty, and ecological value of that giant Sequioa.
"*So what has the City been doing about this?*"
It’s very important that our residents know the City Council is doing everything they can to save our significant trees, and we are taking action to prevent such dramatic losses to our environment from happening again.
Tree retention and expanding the City’s tree canopy has been a top priority for the City Council. In early 2022, the City Council adopted new regulations protecting trees (see below), and for quite some time, the City Council has been wanting to adopt "additional" new regulations requiring tree "retention" on developable sites and preserving what we call “exceptional” trees; however, due to recent legal challenges against tree regulations in nearby cities, new tree regulations in Kenmore have been temporarily on hold pending the outcome of these challenges.
"*What can we do now?*"
Because we’re learning that these legal challenges could go on indefinitely, the City Council will consider whether to move forward with an exceptional tree ordinance at the September 11 City Council meeting. Are there risks with moving forward with such an ordinance? Perhaps, but these risks need to be weighed against the ever-increasing pressure to develop on ever-increasingly scarce developable property—and the resulting loss of tree canopy.
"*What about property rights and the need for more housing?*"
Tree retention, property rights, and increasing housing stock are not mutually exclusive. It’s not trees vs. _______ (fill in the blank). It’s Yes, trees, and ________ (fill in the blank). We can increase our housing stock and preserve the right to develop property without stripping the city of its trees. And vice versa is also true—we can retain and even expand our tree canopy while still allowing property to develop and new homes to be built. It’s about striking the right balance.
"*Next steps?*"
Under the City Council’s direction, city staff wrote a draft of the exceptional tree ordinance almost a year ago, and we’re bringing it back for the City Council to discuss on September 11. Note that adoption of the proposed ordinance will not take place on September 11. The ordinance is required to go through procedural steps, including State-level review and a “SEPA checklist.” These procedures are already underway, and the ordinance may be ready for City Council final consideration by late September or October.
"*What can you do to take action?*"
There is a *Gathering for Our Trees, Sunday, August 13 at 2 pm at the Hangar* on the Town Square, and there will be City Councilmembers in attendance to listen and answer questions (see the invitation below). You can also come to a City Council meeting and share your perspective on tree protection during public comments. The next regular City Council meeting will be on September 11 at 7 pm.
*Let us know where you stand on this issue.* You can email cityhall@kenmorewa.gov or Deputy City Clerk at mkang@kenmorewa.gov. You can also call us at 425-398-8900. In the meantime, if you see any tree cutting going on the city, don’t hesitate to call us right away. We can quickly determine whether it’s a permitted tree cutting. If it’s not legitimate, the City Council has imposed hefty fines for illegal tree cutting.
"*Is there any good news?*"
Yes. The City recently received a draft of the latest tree canopy assessment for Kenmore. The good news is that the City’s tree canopy has increased by 5% (about 200 acres) since the last assessment was completed several years ago.
"*Can I get a history of the City tree regulations that have been adopted in the last few years? *"
Yes. Here you go:
In 2015, the City Council adopted a “tree windthrow” ordinance to protect trees from being thinned out and subject to being blown over by the wind.
In 2022, the following new tree regulations were adopted by the City Council:
* Change the definition of “significant tree” so it includes smaller diameter at breast height (DBH) trees.
* Revise tree retention requirements so certain “nuisance species” (i.e., cottonwood and alder) do not receive credit for retention. This will encourage retention of preferred species that are expected to thrive long term.
* Codify the tree removal application process for existing single-family residences (code clean up item).
* Update the removal penalty language for consistency (code clean up item).
* Have tree removal permits valid for a shorter period of time so replacement trees get into the ground faster.
"*What tree regulations does the City Council want to adopt next?*"
* Establish an exceptional tree program whereby removal of exceptional trees is prohibited except under very limited and exigent circumstances. Exceptional trees shall be a list of trees native to the Puget Sound lowlands, with diameters at breast height specified for each tree. All other trees not identified on the list shall be deemed significant when their DBH reaches or exceeds 48 inches. "(This ordinance will be brought forward for City Council consideration in September)"
* Increase the minimum tree density requirement from 30 tree units per net buildable acre to 40 tree units per net buildable acre.
* Decrease the allowance for single-family tree removal to one per year, regardless of lot size.
* Always require replacement when significant trees are removed. Establish a fee-in-lieu of replacement when site constraints make full replacement infeasible.
* When replacing trees that have been removed, require native trees.
* Retain existing significant trees within required building setbacks (similar to the Gig Harbor policy, also recently adopted by Bellevue [ https://bellevue.municipal.codes/LUC/20.20.900 ]).
*For more information on trees in Kenmore, go to* https://www.kenmorewa.gov/government/departments/development-services/permits/trees
*More Information* [ https://www.kenmorewa.gov/government/departments/development-services/permits/trees ]
________________________________________________________________________
save our trees
________________________________________________________________________
"Si gusta communicarse con la ciudad de Kenmore o revisar un documento en otro idioma, ""envíe" su solicitud con su información de "contacto" "a ""cityhall@kenmorewa.gov" <cityhall@kenmorewa.gov>" o llame al 425-398-8900."
Kenmore City Logo STAY CONNECTED:
[ http://www.facebook.com/KenmoreWA ] Twitter [ http://www.twitter.com/KenmoreWA ] Instagram [ http://www.instagram.com/WhyILoveKenmore ] Youtube [ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5M2Jyz38UIea_Q-RKXE0og ] Flickr [ https://www.flickr.com/photos/158548077@N06/albums ]
Bookmark and Share [ https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/WAKENMORE/bulletins/36a1bf7?reqfrom=share ]
SUBSCRIBER SERVICES: Manage Subscriptions [ http://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/WAKENMORE/subscribers/new?preferences=true ] | Unsubscribe From All [ https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/WAKENMORE/subscriber/one_click_unsubscribe?verification=5.c50c08c25af32aaa2c53b6a3fb104ced&destination=mc%40vivinavi.com ] | Help [ https://insights.govdelivery.com/Communications/Subscriber_Help_Center ]
________________________________________________________________________
This email was sent to mc@vivinavi.com using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: City of Kenmore Washington · 18120 68th Ave NE · Kenmore, WA 98028 GovDelivery logo [ https://subscriberhelp.granicus.com/ ]