PP 15-0003 2015 Tree Code Review - City Council adopted amendments to the Tree Code, (Ord. 2721), which are effective 8/18/16.

The Lake Oswego City Council adopted amendments to the Tree Code, (Ord. 2721).  The ordinance goes into effect August 18, 2016.  Click here for more information regarding this ordinance.

The City is conducting a review of the tree code in accordance with the Council’s goal to “Convene a community dialog on the tree code to identify better ways to meet the intent of the code while responding to residents’ desire for less stringent regulation; review the tree code overall.”

An Ad Hoc Committee appointed by the City Council is charged with reviewing the Tree Code and recommending amendments that protect the quality of life and wooded character of the community (Tree Code Purpose) while responding to residents’ desire for less stringent regulations. The Committee is directed to follow a schedule that will allow the Council to consider draft Tree code language by June 30, 2016.

How Can I Be Involved?

Lake Oswego residents and stakeholders will have multiple opportunities to participate in the process. Public input will be sought from focus groups, ad hoc committee meetings, open houses, and a public hearing. We encourage you to participate!

Please visit this web page for meeting dates and materials.

Receive E-mail Updates

To subscribe to receive email announcements and updates on this project, click here and select "2015 Tree Code Review".

Submit Comments

Do you have comments or suggestions on tree regulation in the City? Email your comments to the project coordinator, Jessica Numanoglu, Senior Planner.

Meetings and Public Involvement

City Council Meetings

The City Council held a Study Session on June 21, 2016, to review the draft Tree Code Amendments recommended by the Ad Hoc Tree Committee. At the study session, the City Council requested staff to draft some options that would provide more flexibility for owner-occupied, single-family dwelling lots to remove trees to supplement the Committee’s recommended amendments. The Council will hold a public hearing on the Draft Tree Code Amendments at its meeting on July 5, 2016. The agenda and reports for both the June 21 Council Study Session and the hearing before the Council on July 5 can be accessed from the meeting page links to the right.

Public Open House on April 27, 2016

The Ad Hoc Tree Committee is seeking feedback from the public on draft amendments to the Tree Code. The Committee will release a Public Discussion Draft of the proposed amendments at an open house on April 27th from 6:30-8:00 pm in the Council Chamber at City Hall. It will also be posted on here the project website on April 27. This draft allows for the public to review the amendments and provide feedback to the Committee before they are finalized for the public hearing before the City Council this summer. In late May, the Ad Hoc Committee will meet to review all public comments that are received. We hope to see you at the open house!

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE TREE CODE AMENDMENTS PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE SUMMARY OF PUBLIC COMMENTS 5-20-16

Urban Forestry Summit

The City Council hosted an “urban forestry summit” on Saturday, May 30 at the Lake Oswego Adult Community Center which served as the kick-off event for the project. About 70 people attended the 3-hour summit and participated in instant polling surveys, listened to presentations by local tree experts on the benefits and management of urban forests, and engaged in small group discussions with members of the City Council and other City boards.

The results of the instant polling surveys, speaker presentations, and a summary of comments from the summit are available below.

Building and Tree Professionals Focus Groups

Staff held two focus group discussions with tree and building professionals that work with the City’s Tree Code on a regular basis. The groups each met for one hour and discussed topics covering the tree removal process, Tree Code, tree protection, and tree regulation in general. A summary of comments from the discussion groups is available below.

Ad Hoc Tree Committee

In May 2015, the City Council invited members of the community to volunteer to serve on an ad hoc tree committee to review the Tree Code. At its July 7, 2015 meeting, the City Council appointed 37 volunteers to the Ad Hoc Committee (Resolution 15-37) and adopted the charge for the Committee (Resolution 15-32).  The Committee's charge was modified by the City Council in September, 2015 to extend the project deadline (Resolution 15-48).

The Committee will meet regularly through the Spring of 2016 and is expected to make their recommendation to City Council by the end of June, 2016. All Committee meetings are open to the public and time is allotted at the beginning or end of the meetings for public comment, as determined by the Committee chair.

Please see the links to related meetings on the right side for Ad Hoc Committee meeting information.