333 S. Meridian, Puyallup, WA 98371 - 253-841-4321

City of Puyallup

Urban Forestry and Green Infrastructure Policies

Urban Forestry and Green Infrastructure Policies

Project scope

The Puyallup Planning Commission is currently reviewing a set of draft urban forestry and green infrastructure policies proposed to be a part of the 2012 City of Puyallup Comprehensive Plan update. The Commission is also reviewing a study completed in 2011 that examined how much of the city is covered by tree canopy. This study and policy update are linked to the city's broader efforts to manage storm water using natural, sustainable systems (example: Puyallup Rain Garden program). The canopy coverage study was funded by the USDA Forest Service and the Department of Natural Resources - Urban and Community Forestry Program. 

The overall purposes of the policy update are to:

  • Promote the city's urban forest resources given its benefits towards sustainable storm water and flood hazard management, reduction of sedimentation into the city's streams and rivers, wildlife habitats, energy efficiency and overall community character;
  • Explore mechanisms to ensure implementation of urban forestry related activities, including street tree maintenance, stream/wetland protection, tree inventory and assessment and public outreach/education;
  • Establish a consolidated set of guidelines that support the establishment, maintenance, and conservation of the city's urban forestry resources;
  • Protect, reconcile and respect the broad reaching values of the community related to scenic views, private property rights, development standards and the overarching goals of establishing and protecting a sustainable urban forest; and
  • Promote the stewardship of the urban forest in an effort to promote more attractive, livable neighborhoods.
          
Planning Commission Review Draft
On July 11, 2012, the Planning Commission completed additional review of the policy draft. The Commission is now looking for community input on this policy document. The draft can be found here:


Public comments have been received by the Planning commission regarding this topic. A matrix of those comments can be viewed here.


Public Comments:
Comments on the review draft should be sent to Chris Beale, Associate Planner/ISA Certified Arborist - cbeale@ci.puyallup.wa.us or (253) 841-5418.

The Planning Commission's review of this topic is on-going. The following is a tentative schedule of future review and documentation of previous review sessions with the Planning Commission.

Timeline
Winter 2011-Fall 2012

Schedule (tentative)
October 12, 2011           Planning Commission review
February 8, 2012            Planning Commission review
March 28, 2012              Planning Commission review
April 25, 2012                Planning Commission review
May 9, 2012                  Planning Commission review
July 11, 2012                 Planning Commission review
September 12, 2012       Public Hearing at Planning Commission
September 26, 2012       Planning Commission recommendation to City Council

The policy areas being studied by the Planning Commission are broad and address a number of different areas, including:

  • Tree City USA - Policy endorses the city to pursue the Tree City USA designation from the Arbor Day Foundation.

                           Tree City USA link- 
                            http://www.arborday.org/programs/treeCityUSA/index.cfm

  • Evergreen Communities Act- Policy endorsing pursuit of designation from the State under RCW 35.105 as an Evergreen Community. This designation will open up grant opportunities to the city in the future.

                            Evergreen Communities Act link-
                            http://www.commerce.wa.gov/site/1126/default.aspx

  • Heritage trees - Policy endorsing the creation of a Heritage Tree ordinance that would create an ordinance for the city's administrative heritage tree program which designates large or culturally/historically significant trees in the city.

                             Heritage tree link- View here.

  • City-wide canopy coverage goal -Setting a city-wide canopy coverage goal which would be the basis for a "call to action" to plant more trees in the city. The city's current canopy coverage is 25.7%. The Planning Commission is considering a goal of 30% canopy coverage by 2030- "30 by 30".

                             Canopy Coverage Study- View here.

  • Tree retention goal - Policy endorsing the consideration of rules and standards for tree retention on construction sites in a future update of the city's landscape code.

  • Tree planting priorities - Policy endorsing the prioritization of environmental restoration planting (e.g. streams, wetlands), as well as planting in highly visible street and highway locations.

  • Trees and vegetation in the public right of way - Policy examining ownership and maintenance obligations in the public right of way.

Additional Resources

Trees are good! - Learn all there is to know about trees and why we should plant more of them in the urban environment.

National tree benefit calculator - Learn all the benefits of your trees! This tool provides quantified benefits of trees based on the size and location of each tree, see how much your tree is worth!

Find an arborist - Tree care should always be supervised or performed by a certified arborist. Find one in your area here.

American Forests National Big Tree Register - Check out this website devoted to the creation of a national register of the largest trees in the county!