www.saveshorelinetrees.com

CITY STAFF RECOMMENDS DENIAL OF MOST TREE CODES

Proposed Tree Codes in review by Planning Commission

After 6 months of reading, revising and writing tree codes, and comparing Shoreline tree codes to surrounding cities, the Tree Preservation Code Team, a group of Shoreline residents, submitted eleven (11) proposed tree code amendments to the City at the end of November 2020 for review in 2021. 

For the next 9 months, from January until October, City staff reviewed these proposed tree code amendments and presented the staff recommendation to the Planning Commission on October 7, 2021.  

City staff recommends denying most of the proposed substantive tree codes.

Here is the link to the tree code presentation which includes codes proposed by the Tree Preservation Code Team with justifications, and City staff recommendation.  Summary of tree codes is on page 1 following the City intro pages 1-4.

Next step: the Planning Commission will continue to evaluate proposed tree codes at a study session on Nov. 4.  

After their study sessions the Planning Commission makes recommendations on each code, and the packet of proposed codes, City staff recommendations, and Planning Commission recommendations continue on to the Council for study and decision.

To submit a comment to the Planning Commission about the proposed tree codes, email Plancom@shorelinewa.gov

SIDEWALKS AND TREES

Sidewalks to be on Council Agenda

At the Shoreline Council Candidate Forum on Tuesday, Oct. 5, Councilmember Chris Roberts, who will continue as councilmember for another 4-year term, announced that he and Councilmember Betsy Robertson will request that sidewalk widths be added as a Council agenda item. 

This means that there will be the opportunity, hopefully in first quarter of 2022, for citizens to provide public comment about sidewalk widths – in residential neighborhoods, in parks, and about the widths of sidewalks along transportation projects (175th; 185th, 145th). 

Save Shoreline Trees supports sidewalks but questions the recent decision by City staff to mandate 6 feet wide sidewalks in residential neighborhoods as stated in the 2021 Engineering Development Manual.

COUNCIL CANDIDATE FORUM

Here is the video link of this forum as posted on the League of Women Voters of Seattle-King County website. The video of the forum starts at 1.5 minutes.  This forum was co-sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Seattle-King County and Save Shoreline Trees.

Over 80 people signed up to watch the forum. A report in Shoreline Area News provides a good recap however we recommend you also watch the video! www.shorelineareanews.com/2021/09/environmental-issues-focus-of-online.html

WHERE DO TREE ROOTS GO?

by John Hushagen

As a consulting arborist I am often asked where I think the tree roots are growing. I took this photo last fall at the north end of Green Lake when Seattle was doing a lot of utility and street work. The Giant Sequoia, to the left of the 2' trench, has grown up with the compacted gravel path. For most of its life it was probably getting some summer water from the lawn area to the south because as the photo shows there are NO roots in the trenched area!  Tree roots are opportunistic and will grow wherever they can find what they need, and there’s not much to get under the gravel or the adjacent street. This surprised me, but illustrates how trees are tougher than we often think they are.   

So the work west of the trees on Dayton Ave N. (WSDOT project) has started.  Like this photo, I have a hunch that they are not going to find a lot of tree roots so I think the trees will be okay.  Yet, I wish the state could find a way to irrigate the available root zones when this is over.

CARING FOR OUR TREES

Remove Ivy and Create Survival Rings

by Judy MacCully, Forest Steward Green Shoreline Partnership, and supporter of Save Shoreline Trees

I would like to add one strategy to the discussion around saving our Shoreline Trees and that is to ask each of you to take a look in your backyards and in your neighborhoods for English Ivy growing on and around trees. This Ivy is fast growing and can overtake a healthy tree in no time.

English Ivy can strangle trees, and once it is in the tree canopy, it can block sunlight from the trees’ leaves. Dense ivy cover deprives the tree’s bark of normal contact with air and microorganisms and competes with the tree for nutrients and water. Ivy is a threat.

There are simple things that we can do to keep our trees healthy. Remove the Ivy and build a survival ring. Here is a link to a 2018 YouTube video by Forterra summer interns Devin and Daniela showing how to remove the ivy. https://youtu.be/XTwYAAXlSL4

THANK YOU FOR DONATING TO SAVE SHORELINE TREES!

We had a successful 1st Annual Save Shoreline Trees Fundraiser despite COVID, and change of dates. We were all so impressed with Lynda Mapes’ presentation and we plan to have her join us again.

We raised enough funds to purchase the materials for a booth and display for next year’s Shoreline Farmers Market and other venues. We also have gained more members and increased our overall impact. Every contributor received a free Save Shoreline Trees sign. Please let us know if you didn’t receive yours! Email info@saveshorelinetrees.com

We remain grateful for the sustained support and energies brought by our members in speaking for our trees in Shoreline!

TREE OF THE MONTH

Colorful Maples Brighten Fall

by Kathy Kaye, Save Shoreline Trees Advisory Board

You see them everywhere at this time of year, their bright oranges and reds announcing the arrival of fall. Maple trees are as much a part of the Pacific Northwest as madrones, cedars, pines and firs.

Did you know:

• There are 128 varieties of maple trees.

• Most maples are native to Asia. The majority grow in the northern hemisphere. Only one species, Acer laurinum, is found in the southern hemisphere.

• Maples live 100 to 400 years, depending on the species.

• Maple wood is used for most violins, violas, cellos and double basses.

• The maple tree is a plant in the Sapindaceae family, which also includes horse chestnut, ackee and lychee.

• Seven maple species are critically endangered, fourteen are endangered and fifteen are vulnerable to extinction.

Sources: britannica.com/plant/maple-tree, toeriverwoodco.com/wood-tree-species/, iucnredlist.org.

BRIEFS

• The Shoreline Planning Commission will be meeting on Thurs., Nov. 4.  Tree codes will be on the agenda. See the home page of Save Shoreline Trees website for the agenda and Zoom link, available on Oct. 29.

• Save Shoreline Trees appreciates your donations to spread the word about tree protection and preservation to Shoreline residents. We are a 501(c)(3) and all donations are tax deductible as allowed by the IRS. Donate by credit or debit card or mail your check to Save Shoreline Trees, c/o 16069 Dayton Ave N, Shoreline WA 98133.

Contributors to this newsletter: 
Melody Fosmore, Kathleen Russell, Kathy Kaye, John Hushagen, Susanne Tsoming 
Questions or comments may be emailed to info@saveshorelinetrees.com.