By Kristine Kelly, Jonathan Witte, William E. Derry and Nancy Johnson / For The Herald
When you ask folks why they love living in Snohomish County, most likely it won’t be the growing population, horrendous traffic or the increasing episodes of wildfire smoke. Most likely it will be the scenic mountains, abundant waters, and the jewel of the Pacific Northwest, our beautiful trees they are thinking of.
Which is our Catch-22: a beautiful place to live will attract more people, which can mean more negative impacts on our environment. Is it possible to balance population growth and have a healthy environment?
We say yes.
Right now, Snohomish County’s 2024 Comprehensive Plan Update is underway. This is your opportunity to tell our decision makers you want the county to protect our forests, farms and rural lands, our water quality and our trees at the process’ first public hearing at 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 24 at the County Administration Building in Everett.
There are many new policies as well as proposed changes to existing policies and land use and zoning changes, which will either help protect our urban and rural communities from the negative impacts of growth and development; or make it worse.
One of those new policies for improvement to our urban communities, called the Urban Tree Canopy Policies, will ensure that more trees will be saved and replanted in our unincorporated urban areas, which we wholeheartedly support.
While it is critical that the county protect our rural and resource lands from unnecessary urban development and our water quality, and to adopt other important climate change policies for our children’s futures, the urban tree canopy policies are equally necessary to achieve the many important benefits trees give to our communities.
These policies are modeled on the state Department of Natural Resources’ Evergreen Community Act and will replace the current subdivision landscaping regulations that have not adequately protected our urban trees and have done nothing to restore the county’s already built communities.
There continues to be a formidable push by some developers to expand urban growth into our rural areas and to clearcut large swaths of undeveloped land to build high-end single-family homes. But we can’t keep on this path and meet the mandates to provide much-needed affordable housing for all income groups, lower greenhouse gas emissions from tailpipes, develop areas served by public transportation, and stop urban sprawl into our rural and resource lands. And we can’t keep on a path that has left much of our urban communities devoid of trees, exacerbating the negative effects of climate change and growth.
It is not good for people’s health nor their pocketbook.
Saving more trees in our urban areas will have positive effects for everyone.
For too many years the county has created unhealthy conditions for thousands of people who are marginalized and forgotten in land-use decisions. Correcting these inequities is a highlight of the update, and the urban tree canopy policies need to be part of that correction to abate heat islands that are created by a lack of trees in our urban communities.
While many of the benefits and services provided by community forests are not yet easily assigned a dollar value, they absolutely have value. They are essential for vital, livable communities. Trees have proven to:
• Combat the effects of climate change through carbon sequestration;
• Provide shade in the summer for yards, driveways and homes and windbreaks from winter storms;
• Give habitat for birds and small mammals;
• Take up water to help prevent flooding;
• Reduce air and water pollution, soil erosion and landslides;
• Moderate temperature impacts from climate change;
• Mitigate stormwater impacts;
• Reduce noise and light pollution;
• Support salmon populations;
• Provide mental and physical health benefits, and conserve energy.
Plus, there’s the fact that people love having trees in their neighborhoods, whether they live in a single-family home or a large apartment complex.
The urban tree canopy policies are backed up by the best available science. The goal of the policies are to “provide healthy urban forests in urban unincorporated areas to support ecosystem services, public health, economic vitality, increased environmental stability and resiliency, and a better quality of life.” This goal is then backed up with an array of objectives and policies, including requiring a 38 percent tree canopy coverage for all urban areas in the county.
We hope you agree that adoption of the Urban Tree Canopy Policies is necessary and long overdue. You can participate in the hearing either in person or online. Snohomish County’s Planning Commission website details how to participate at tinyurl.com/SnoCoPlanningUTC. Read the policies and findings at tinyurl.com/SnoCoUrbanTrees.
It’s time to speak up for trees because people want and need trees. We hope to see you there.
Kristin Kelly represents Futurewise, protecting farmland, forests and water resources through wise land use policies and practices. Dr. Jonathan Witte is a member of Washington Physcians for Social Responsibility. William E. Derry is president of Pilchuck Audubon Society. Nancy Johnson is co-chair for the Sno-Isle Sierra Club Group.
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