The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About09-09-24 Public Comment - Bozeman Tree Coalition - Comments for Sustainability Board mtng. 9_11_24 re_ Landmark Program presentationFrom:BozemanTreeCoalition To:Bozeman Public Comment Cc:Marcia Kaveney; Angela Kociolek; Daniel Carty Subject:[EXTERNAL]Comments for Sustainability Board mtng. 9/11/24 re: Landmark Program presentation Date:Monday, September 9, 2024 3:17:31 PM Attachments:HPAB_Darrow_Report_Heritage_Trees_Final_docx__1_.pdf CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Dear Sustainability Board Members- Thank you for serving on this advisory board and for reading our comments as they relate tothe Landmark Program presentation you will be receiving on Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024. We are writing to ask you to express your support of the Landmark Program overall and especially for the following specific items included in or concerning the program: 1. Re-evaluation of section 38.340 of the UDC and expanding the boundaries of the NCOD toinclude a larger area of the historic downtown area with stricter development standards for theprotection of naturally occurring affordable housing (NOAH) and the existing mature trees onboth public and private property in Bozeman's Urban Forest. 2. Strengthening site plan criteria (38.230.100) as it relates to NOAH and protecting ourexisting urban forest including criteria A.1., A.7.a., 7.c., 7. d. 8.a. ( https://library.municode.com/mt/bozeman/codes/code_of_ordinances ) 3. The addition of the Trees/Urban Forest to UDC Chapter 38. Article 6. Natural Resources.Trees are not currently listed as a natural resource. Listing them would align with the City's growth policy and many municipal codes- signaling this Board's understanding that trees areappreciating assets that benefit our community in a multitude of ways. 4. Incorporation of the Heritage Tree Program into the new Landmark Program wherebyexisting trees and places of importance not currently recognized as significant at the Nationallevel can be protected with locally specific standards and regulations. The HPAB didimportant work towards establishing a Heritage Tree Program in their 2022-2023 work plan,which seems to be getting lost in the new Landmark Program (see attachment). It is widely accepted that green infrastructure (incl. trees) increases in value over time and isexpensive to replace. Case in point- this Tuesday, Sept. 10,'24, the City Commission will be approving a $10,500 expense to replace just 7 trees in the downtown area (Consent Item#G.8). Simultaneously, the 5th and Main Hotel plans removal of all 7 trees on its lot, including themassive ponderosa pine. And, the 7th and Aspen project is planning to remove two massivespruce trees and has another dozen mature trees at risk of removal due to lack of protections. Please express your support for the above points, which will in turn support the protection ofBozeman's urban forest including individual heritage trees that, together, add to the character of our neighborhoods, preserve history, and provide valuable ecosystem services to theBozeman Community as a whole. Thank you, Marcia KaveneyDaniel Carty Angie KociolekBozeman Tree Coalition Co-founders 1 MEMORANDUM Historic Preservation Advisory Board Meeting August 17, 2022 Agenda: Report Elizabeth Darrow, member of HPAB  Cultural Landscape/Heritage Tree Program  Community Engagement: Broaden and deepen engagement of the community in city government, innovating methods for inviting input from the community and stakeholders.  Background: As identified in HPAB's 2022-2023 Work Plan, the board seeks to establish a Cultural Landscape/Heritage Tree Program :Where the community can acknowledge the importance of place beyond the structures of the built environment. This can include Heritage or Exceptional Trees, groves, orchards, parks, open spaces, or gardens, public street or trees on private property. The main point is that the significance of these trees is based on protecting our relationship to the natural world and trees which offer profound aesthetic and health benefits to our community. They exist within cultural contexts over time, that includes the environment, historic events and people, social activities, groups or places. HPAB will be discussing how this program could be established.  .  HPAB Subcommittee: Elizabeth Darrow, Linda Semones  Community Members: TBD  Phases/Steps 1. Research & Educate ourselves about what exists in Bozeman code already -locate other cities with programs what we can use- as we construct our own? 2. Partner Outreach to Bozeman Boards & Community 3. GET INVOLVED Tree Inventory: create forms (see example) treasure hunt! 4. Outreach to other cities code or program, people, and orgs (like possible guest David Moehrung from TreePac) knows about Tree Protection Code deep in the battle in Seattle for YEARS! 5. Media Campaign/Get community support/Incentives $ /donors pay for trees?/ HP honor 6. Writing it into the Code /Tree Regulations  Phase I  Research & Education into existing Tree Regulations, Heritage Trees or Exceptional Trees: A SELF- EVIDENT TRUTH: The Urban Forest is essential and a mature tree canopy critical. Heritage Trees provide a record over time of the social, cultural landscape and natural history of place in aesthetics, value of species, period taste, and the effects on the environment of human habitation. Trees save money through green infrastructure services. They reduce stormwater run-off, prevent mudslides, soil erosion, reduce energy costs by moderating the local climate. Trees are good for the environment and increase bio-diversity, protect habitat, pollinators, wildlife and mitigate the causes and effects of global climate change. 2  o Research: o City of Seattle Director’s Rule 2020 Director's Rule o https://www.seattle.gov/sdci/codes/codes-we-enforce-(a-z)/trees-and-codes o https://www.plantamnesty.org/about-plantamnesty/the-heritage-tree-program/  Phase II Community Outreach: Partnerships with other city Boards and depts.  Alex Nordquest, City of Bozeman Forester & now member of Urban Parks & Forestry Advisory Board has agreed to participate with HPAB in the Heritage Tree Program planning. Meeting Date TBD in late Aug. He makes it clear that his management extends to public street/boulevard trees and not trees on private property which we know will be very important for the success of our Program and for Tree Protection Muni Code improvements.  Urban Parks & Forestry Board: the Bozeman Tree Advisory Group is now part of new Urban Parks and Forestry Board. Outreach underway  Sustainability Board TBD  Links Urban Forestry Group Bozeman Tree Regulations  Heritage Tree Program Values Importance of urban forest, mature trees Heritage/Exceptional Trees contribute to vital climate policy of city and the following A few of the many ways our urban trees add value: 1. Increase thermal comfort for pedestrians; reduce the urban "heat island" effect 2. Create complex urban forest habitat for biodiversity 3. Improve energy efficiency from shading buildings 4. Significantly reduce runoff and improve water quality through filtration 5. Reduce urban particulate pollution and work to offset CO2 emissions 6. Improve the mental and physical health of urban inhabitants 7. Provide a record of the social, cultural landscape and natural history of place in aesthetics, value of species, period taste, effects on environment of human habitation  Links & Readings on campaigns for Exceptional & Heritage Trees https://www.greenwoodexceptionalcedar.com/?fbclid=IwAR36ZnhBN4Kmqcvw1fnZ987pKqMw 42Voxc6Gn43LncDDgY2EQIQsOpUrdM https://www.thelast6000.org/ https://crosscut.com/2019/05/saving-seattles-last-exceptional-trees-means-getting-know- them https://www.portland.gov/trees/heritage  The Magic of Tree-Lined Streets, Sarah Koboss  Urban Forest Advocacy, Friends of Urban Forests 3  "Seattle's Long-neglected Tree Canopy is on a Collision Course with Development," Investigate West, 7/27/2016  "Mapping Urban Trees in 11 Cities," Next City, 12/30/2016  "Witness Tree: Seasons Of Change With A Century-Old Oak," Lynda V. Mapes  Political Action, TreePAC  Canopy Coverage Assessment data: 2007 Phase III Heritage Tree Inventory  Community Outreach: crowd-sourcing for young and old -a treasure hunt to find Heritage Trees-public & private!  Example of Inventory forms-online or hard copy  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd3TYIg2h2NpI2HIsnZVvbUTSttxi2cebcj M2mBSawZ5h7ENw/viewform  The Power of Trees! https://www.thelast6000.org/majestic-trees.html