With the response from PDS dated 6/12/23 (scroll down for the full response), it is clear that PDS allows developers to clear cut what are otherwise known as significant trees because they are not considered a critical area in and of themselves and are not included in the defined critical areas. Significant trees have to be reclassified immediately as a critical area. What is needed right away is a moratorium in place so that these significant trees are properly defined and preserved otherwise all the many trees constituting an urban forest at Ambleside will be cut as the developer has indicated, because that’s the way the code comes down. Knowing this, how can the county council stand for this? The council needs to take immediate action to stop this now. We need to publicize the inequity and destruction the present policy allows in our urban growth area. The county council must take a stand once and for all. The public must be made aware, and where the council stands. How can say we are here to fight climate change when we allow obvious destruction to be the law of the land.
If it’s true, what do you think? Would you be willing to contact your county council and state legislators? You decide.
Snohomish County Council: contact.council@snoco.org;
State legislators:
1st District: derek.stanford@leg.wa.gov; shelley.kloba@leg.wa.gov ; davina.duerr@leg.wa.gov
38th District: june.robinson@leg.wa.gov; mary.fosse@leg.wa.gov; Julio.Cortes@leg.wa.gov
21st District: Marko.Liias@leg.wa.gov; Lillian.ortiez-self@leg.wa.gov; strom.peterson@leg.wa.gov
44th District: John.Lovick@leg.wa.gov; april.berg@leg.wa.gov; brandy.donaghy@leg.wa.gov
Chair of the House Environmental and Energy Committee: joe.fitzgibbon@leg.wa.gov
Snohomish County PDS: Director m.mccrary@snoco.org
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Hi Mr. Walsh,
Your inquiry was forwarded to me for a response.
Yes, PDS enforces SCC 30.25.016, for all projects that are subject to that ordinance per SCC 30.25.016(1):
30.25.016 Tree canopy requirements.
(1) Tree canopy requirements shall apply to all new residential development applications within unincorporated urban growth areas. The following activities are exempt from the tree canopy requirements of this section:
(a) Removal of any hazardous, dead or diseased trees, and as necessary to remedy an immediate threat to person or property as determined by a letter from a qualified arborist;
(b) Construction of a single-family dwelling, duplex, accessory or non-accessory storage structure on an individual lot created prior to April 21, 2009 or created by a subdivision or short subdivision for which a complete application was submitted prior to April 21, 2009;
(c) Construction or maintenance of public or private road network elements, and public or private utilities including utility easements not related to development subject to chapter 30.23A, 30.34A, 30.41G or 30.42E SCC;
(d) Construction or maintenance of public parks and trails when located within an urban residential zone; and
(e) Pruning and maintenance of trees.
The level of preservation for significant trees is defined at SCC 30.25.016(11):
SCC 30.25.016(11)
Retained significant trees, trees planted as replacements for significant trees, and trees planted to meet requirements in subsection (3) of this section may not be removed except when determined in writing by a certified arborist to constitute a hazard. Any replacement or significant trees removed without proper documentation from a certified arborist shall be subject to a fine as determined under chapter 30.85 SCC.
Violations of the tree canopy requirements code section are enforced pursuant to SCC 30.25.016(12):
SCC 30.25.016 (12)
Any significant trees identified in a landscape plan to be retained and subsequently damaged or removed during site development shall be replaced at a rate of three trees for each one damaged or removed significant tree. Failure to replace damaged or removed significant trees shall be subject to a fine as determined under chapter 30.85 SCC.
Tom Barnett | Permitting Supervisor
Snohomish County Planning and Development Services
3000 Rockefeller Avenue M/S 604 | Everett, WA 98201
425-388-3311 x2997 | tom.barnett@snoco.org