A rash of illegal tree cutting in Seattle has prompted local officials to act on the city's decreasing amount of trees and canopy cover. Tree-planting efforts hope to build the canopy back from less than its current city coverage of less than 20%.
"People illegally cut trees to improve views, because they're concerned about trees toppling onto their houses, and because they find their needles and leaves to be messy."
"In the Emerald City, there are no restrictions on chopping down trees on private lots, except in sensitive areas such as slopes or shorelines and with new construction. With the explosion in the number of smaller homes being demolished to make way for townhouses or larger homes, trees are getting squeezed out."
"While a 2004 tree-planting partnership focused on parks, the city later this year will finalize a 30-year Urban Forest Management Plan, which sets citywide goals for increasing the amount of land covered by trees from 18 percent to 30 percent."
"The plan would strengthen incentives for tree planting and preservation. City leaders are proceeding cautiously with restrictions on chopping down privately owned trees."
Read the full story: City tree protection not making the cut
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
The state-sanctioned urbicide of Austin
People don’t kill cities. Freeways do.
US to reduce Colorado River water deliveries to Mexico
A new Colorado Treaty amendment reduces Mexico’s Colorado River water allocation by 250,000 acre feet.
Nation's most wind-powered state turns to coal as data centers increase energy demand
For the first time in decades, Iowa has increased its generation of coal power.
NYC cools commuters with city's first rain garden above a bus stop
New York City officials say the plants in the rain garden can absorb 16 gallons of rainwater during heavy storms.
Brightline West’s future may rely on $6 billion federal loan
The company has until Nov. 2 to make a $400 million equity investment into its proposed high-speed rail line.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
Greater Baltimore Committee
Eagle County Government
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello
Journal of the American Planning Association