We Need YOUR Help Before City Council Votes!
City Council is voting on Monday, October 21st on the new "urban tree ordinance petition 2019-104. If passed this will loosen the protection on the trees in Charlotte to benefit developers. The trees need YOUR help! Send an email to City Council asking them to vote NO on this petition.
Charlotte’s current tree ordinance was created in 1978 to “protect trees in the public right of
way and those on private property as they relate to development.” There is a fundamental
misalignment between the goals of the ordinance and the means to assure they are met.
Charlotte’s City Council is charged with the responsibility to “maintain and enlarge” the city’s
tree canopy cover with a stated goal of “50% tree canopy by 2050.” However, the city’s current
tree ordinance does not in any way assure tree canopy protection. Furthermore, changes to
the ordinance being proposed by the City threaten the canopy even further. While technically
focused on “urban” zones, “urban” is ever expanding and invading suburbs. Just look around.
A small group of citizens have recently become aware of the disparity between stated goals, the
current reality, and future threats to tree canopy. We are asking you to join us. Guidelines
currently being proposed for development regarding “tree save” are grossly inadequate. Public
hearings previously held concerning these proposed guidelines and associated tree protection
were not well communicated to citizens. Developers dominated the discussion. City Council
has only recently begun hearing citizens’ concerns regarding tree canopy protection.
Within the next few weeks the City Council will:
Opportunity:
Charlotte citizens have an immediate and urgent opportunity to impact profoundly the
protection of the city’s tree canopy and green space. Reach out to City Council before they cast their vote on Monday! Citizen input is being sought, and we have to speak up or lose this opportunity.
The City of Charlotte is at a critical crossroads. Our city can choose to integrate:
By doing so, Charlotte could be a profound leader among growing cities in protecting trees and
natural green space.
Speak up and help save our tree canopy!
Charlotte’s current tree ordinance was created in 1978 to “protect trees in the public right of
way and those on private property as they relate to development.” There is a fundamental
misalignment between the goals of the ordinance and the means to assure they are met.
Charlotte’s City Council is charged with the responsibility to “maintain and enlarge” the city’s
tree canopy cover with a stated goal of “50% tree canopy by 2050.” However, the city’s current
tree ordinance does not in any way assure tree canopy protection. Furthermore, changes to
the ordinance being proposed by the City threaten the canopy even further. While technically
focused on “urban” zones, “urban” is ever expanding and invading suburbs. Just look around.
A small group of citizens have recently become aware of the disparity between stated goals, the
current reality, and future threats to tree canopy. We are asking you to join us. Guidelines
currently being proposed for development regarding “tree save” are grossly inadequate. Public
hearings previously held concerning these proposed guidelines and associated tree protection
were not well communicated to citizens. Developers dominated the discussion. City Council
has only recently begun hearing citizens’ concerns regarding tree canopy protection.
Within the next few weeks the City Council will:
- Decide whether to endorse the proposed guidelines, or
- Delay that decision in order to create an ordinance that better protects the city’s tree canopy.
Opportunity:
Charlotte citizens have an immediate and urgent opportunity to impact profoundly the
protection of the city’s tree canopy and green space. Reach out to City Council before they cast their vote on Monday! Citizen input is being sought, and we have to speak up or lose this opportunity.
The City of Charlotte is at a critical crossroads. Our city can choose to integrate:
- Responsibly managing growth,
- Protecting and enhancing the city’s tree canopy, and
- Mitigating the effects of climate change.
By doing so, Charlotte could be a profound leader among growing cities in protecting trees and
natural green space.
Speak up and help save our tree canopy!