AGENDA #3e

MEMORANDUM

TO:                  Mayor and Town Council

FROM:            Council Member Sally Greene

SUBJECT:       Tree Ordinance

DATE:             January 12, 2004

The Land Use Management Ordinance has tree protection requirements that extend to single-family developing lots; tee stands are protected as well as specimen and rare trees.  I would like for us to talk about whether we are ready to take the next step, which would be protection of trees on private property.  This is a step that should involve a very great amount of public discussion and participation:  the one thing that is most clearly required in the success of a comprehensive tree ordinance is the support of the citizens.

Attached are several documents for your review so that we can talk about them at our retreat:

1. Two overview pages from Atlanta’s urban forestry program.

2. A statement from the San Antonio Citizen’s Tree Coalition.

3. Excerpts from the USDA Forest Service’s “Guidelines for Developing and Evaluating Tree Ordinances.”

4. 4.   Myrtle Beach’s tree ordinance.