Louisville's Tree-Protection Plan in Final Revisions

Louisville is nearing the finish line on a new tree-protection ordinance a year after starting work on the project and several more years of debate.

"What started out three years ago as a call for a no-let-loss [sic] tree policy for Louisville by a now disbanded mayoral advisory commission now strictly focuses on protecting trees planted in Louisville Metro public rights of way," according to an article by James Bruggers.

Among the specific provisions of the tree-protection ordinance, according to Bruggers, are provisions that property owners abutting city-owned rights-of-way must maintain trees and receive permits for removal. The ordinance would also establish a tree advisory commission and create an urban forestry division within the metro government.

"The ordinance would do nothing to address the loss of trees on private property during land development," adds Bruggers. As previously reported by Planetizen, a 2013 study found that Louisville has the worst urban heat island effect of any city in the United States, and the tree-protection ordinance is a component of the city's response.