Neither environmentalists nor developers like the city’s current regulations around tree removal, but there is praise on both sides for the “smart and nimble” new version.

The existing tree ordinance in Dallas, according to Peter Simek of D Magazine, has the unfortunate distinction of having “been a bane for developers and environmentalists alike.”
But starting this week, the Dallas City Council will be reviewing a revision that Simek calls “a smart and nimble policy that is born out of some long and difficult negotiations.”
For example, while the original ordinance does not distinguish between species of trees, the revision imposes heavy fines removing elms, oaks and pecans but no fines on removal of invasive species; the current ordinance does not take into account the age of trees removed—meaning that a very large tree can be replaced with lots of very small trees that may or may not survive—but the new ordinance tries to take size and survival rate into account.
And the reforestation fund developers pay into, which currently has little oversight, will now go towards creating an “urban forest master plan” and paying someone to implement it.
A number of studies released in recent years show that the quantifiable economic and health benefits of an urban tree canopy far outweigh the costs.
FULL STORY: After More Than 20 Years, Dallas May Finally Fix Its Broken Tree Ordinance

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series
The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

Driving Equity and Clean Air: California Invests in Greener School Transportation
California has awarded $500 million to fund 1,000 zero-emission school buses and chargers for educational agencies as part of its effort to reduce pollution, improve student health, and accelerate the transition to clean transportation.

Congress Moves to End Reconnecting Communities and Related Grants
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee moved to rescind funding for the Neighborhood Equity and Access program, which funds highway removals, freeway caps, transit projects, pedestrian infrastructure, and more.

From Throughway to Public Space: Taking Back the American Street
How the Covid-19 pandemic taught us new ways to reclaim city streets from cars.
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