"There's a hole in the sky where the tree once was. Somebody's making money."  Check out her YouTube video!  https://youtu.be/_JOuZg7Q1_w?si=f6wQJRbUM_eLJuDY

Stop clear-cutting - If you agree with this proposed ordinance, please ask the council to enact it and make it effective immediately to all pending projects and thereafter (links below):

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ORDINANCE NO. ______

AN ORDINANCE creating a temporary moratorium against tree removal and establishing a work plan for tree protection regulations

WHEREAS, Snohomish County has the authority, under constitutional police powers, home rule authority, and the Washington State Growth Management Act, including chapter 36.70A RCW, to establish a moratorium to preclude the removal and cutting of trees while the county studies related land use issues; and

WHEREAS, Snohomish County recognizes the need to maintain substantial tree canopy to lower ambient temperatures and reduce heat island effect during the summer months, which are predicted to become increasingly hotter as the climate warms; and 

WHEREAS, Snohomish County is losing tree canopy at unacceptable rates within the urban area; and

WHEREAS, to reverse the declines in tree canopy and to recognize the goal of equitably distributed urban forests, additional tree protection legislation is necessary;

WHEREAS, this legislation is intended to advance the Snohomish County efforts to reduce climate pollutants and increase community climate resiliency, so that all communities can enjoy the environmental and aesthetic benefits of greater tree canopy cover in their neighborhoods; 

WHEREAS RCW 70A.45 declares in the Intent section (Laws of 2020, Chapter 79):  

(1) Global climate change represents an existential threat to the livelihoods, health, and well-being of all Washingtonians. Our state is experiencing a climate emergency in the form of devastating wildfires, drought, lack of snowpack, and increases in ocean acidification caused in part by climate change.

….

(6) . . . The most recent report underscores the need for Washington to take immediate and aggressive action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the primary cause of global climate change.WHEREAS, trees and urban forests provide necessary and substantial economic, social, health and environmental benefits needed for a thriving, livable and resilient community. These benefits include and promote improved mental and physical public health, stormwater retention, wildlife habitat preservation for birds and other species, pollution reduction, climate change mitigation and adaptation, erosion control, urban heat island reduction, wind protection, and aesthetic beauty; and

WHEREAS, the goals of this legislation are to protect and enhance the public health, safety, environment, and general welfare of the people of Snohomish County by improving protections and processes for Snohomish County trees and urban forest located on both public and private land; 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED:

Section 1. The Snohomish County Council finds that:

            A.  Trees provide a valuable asset to the community as a whole and preserving trees provides valuable environmental, economic, and aesthetic benefits to the citizens and businesses of Snohomish County.  Retention of trees promotes the public health, safety and general welfare. 

            B. Trees have the following benefits: 

1. Preserve and enhance the City's natural beauty; 

            2. Provide varied and rich habitats for wildlife; 

3. Moderate the effects of wind and temperature and have a positive impact on global climate change; 

4. Slow runoff from precipitation, reduce soil erosion and sedimentation and pollution of natural waterways; and thus minimize the public and private costs for storm water control and treatment and utility maintenance; 

5. Improve air quality, through the absorption of pollutants and contamination; 

            6. Mask unwanted sound and reduce noise pollution; and 

            7. Enhance the economic value of both new and existing development. 

            C. Tree removal to accommodate urban development has resulted in the loss to the public of these beneficial functions of trees and has also resulted in environmental degradation; and

D. The lack of sufficient regulation of sites not undergoing development undermines the long-term goals for tree retention and preservation and encourages tree removal prior to the application of a development permit; and  

E.  It is necessary for Snohomish County to adopt a moratorium to temporarily reduce or limit the removal of certain trees prior to the adoption of permanent regulations that address existing tree removal practices that compromise the County’s ability to achieve its stated goals for tree protection. 

Section 2. 

During the pendency of this ordinance:

A. New development shall retain all existing “significant trees” except “hazardous trees,” both as defined by this ordinance, within the urban area of Snohomish County.

B. Within the urban area of Snohomish County, property owners shall retain, and not remove, any “significant tree” as defined by this ordinance, except a “hazardous tree” as defined by this ordinance.  

            C. “Significant tree” means any tree that is 8 inches or greater in diameter at 4.5 feet above ground.

D. "Hazardous tree" means any tree or tree part that poses a high risk of damage to persons or property, and that is designated by the Director according to tree risk assessment evaluation standards established by the International Society of Arboriculture.

Section 3.

A. It is in the public interest to establish a moratorium on removal of significant trees in the urban area of Snohomish County for a six-month period in order to investigate the appropriateness of a comprehensive tree protection ordinance.

B. Under RCW 36.70A.390, Snohomish County is authorized to adopt a moratorium to implement the Growth Management Act. 

C. It is necessary that this ordinance go into effect immediately in order to avoid inappropriate tree cutting and a rush of applications for new development that might result in the vesting of new development applications inconsistent with the intent of this ordinance. 

Section 4.

A. A six-month moratorium commencing upon the effective date of this ordinance is declared on the removal of significant trees as described in this ordinance and on the issuance of any land use permits that would authorize the removal of any significant tree or trees. 

            B. Within sixty days of the effective date of this ordinance, the council shall hold a public hearing on the moratorium. 

            C. During the moratorium, the executive shall complete a work plan for adoption of a permanent ordinance regulating tree protection for the urban areas of the County. The work plan shall:

1. Describe all development regulations that affect tree cutting and removal in the urban areas of Snohomish County and recommend modifications consistent with the goal of tree preservation; 

2. Describe the mechanism by which trees can be classified for the purposes of tree protection, including sizes, species and locations; 

3. Evaluate the impacts that additional tree protection measures will have on residential development and on the preservation of local residential neighborhoods;

4. Evaluate the impacts of various tree protection measure on climate change and temperatures within the urban areas of Snohomish County; 

5. Consider the establishment of tree canopy standards and requirements for the urban areas of Snohomish County; 

6. Complete a community engagement plan specific to the urban areas of Snohomish County to assure the consideration of public views and opinions regarding tree preservation in the various urban communities of Snohomish County; 

7.  The executive shall electronically transmit the work plan to the County Council no later than June 30, 2024.

Section 5. 

Severability. If any provision of this ordinance or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid or should any portion of this ordinance be preempted by state or federal law or regulation, the remainder of the ordinance or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected. 

Section 6. 

A. The county council finds as a fact and declares that an emergency exists and that this ordinance is necessary for the immediate preservation of public peace, health or safety or for the support of county government and its existing public institutions. 

B. Enactment of this temporary moratorium as an emergency under Section 2.120 of the Snohomish County Charter waives certain procedural requirements, including SEPA review under chapter 43.21C RCW and SCC. Chapter 30.61 and notice to the state under RCW 36.70A.106.

            PASSED this ___ day of December, 2023.

SNOHOMISH COUNTY COUNCIL

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If you agree with this proposed ordinance to stop clear-cutting of single family development unit plats please contact our county council persons:

Snohomish County Council:  contact.council@snoco.org; Nate.Nehring@snoco.org; Megan.Dunn@co.snohomish.wa.us; Strom.Peterson@snoco.org; Sam.Low@snoco.org