Seattle Conflict Between Trees and Housing Heats up

Seattle’s efforts to increase its urban tree canopy to improve air quality, provide shade, filter stormwater, and reduce the heat island effect are coming up against the need for more housing, pitting tree conservationists against developers.

As Robert McClure reports for the Associated Press, the city updated its tree ordinance in 2023 in ways that tree advocates say privileges developers. According to an analysis, the city used to lose about six trees per week to development. Since the updated ordinance was passed, that number was about 58 trees per week.

Seattle Construction and Inspections Department spokesperson Bryan Stevens said over 90 percent of the removed trees were less than two feet in diameter, and that close to double the number of new trees were planted. However, new trees will take years to bring the same benefits as mature trees. 

The 2023 ordinance makes it easier for developers to cut down trees on private land. Meanwhile, the city is not on track to meet its goal of covering 30 percent of the city with tree canopy by 2037, with a study finding it is “slowly losing ground.” 

Although the Department of Transportation is tasked with planting new trees on public property to make up for trees lost to development, an SDOT report found that even if trees were planted on all available public properties, it would still fall short of the city’s goal. A large portion of public property is unsuitable for new trees, or would require expensive removal of concrete and utilities. 

While housing advocates say the trees are an excuse to block development, tree advocates say smarter design, particularly if incentivized by the city, could prevent the loss of as many trees.