"Clackamas County may ban urban clear cuts..."

[Kevin]

An important item from the DLCD Land Use News email report...

Sept. 29: (Portland Tribune) Clackamas County may ban urban clear cuts
http://www.portlandtribune.com/news/story.php?story_id=125424492355203800
After a brief explosion of interest and nine months cooking in a task force, the county has finally come up with the meat of a tree-cutting ordinance to prevent clear cuts of properties in the urban area...

"'It’s trying to weigh personal property rights with preservation of our canopy, two very good things that we’re trying to (balance),' said County Commission Chair Lynn Peterson.

"The county commission sent the proposal back for a few revisions and clarifications, but essentially it would allow property owners the opportunity to cut two trees a year without interference and any more than that would have to be approved by the county. Stipulations for approval could mean mitigation, such as replacing the tree directly; paying into a county tree fund so the county can replace it elsewhere; or accepting a moratorium on developing the land for a number of years after the trees are cut.

"Some trees would also be exempt, such as diseased trees, hazardous trees and trees smaller than eight inches in diameter.

"Some grounds for the county to grant a permit include things such as proximity to buildings — is it growing onto your roof; new construction — could it be placed or replaced somewhere on the property; if it’s being removed because it’s blocking a solar energy system; or if it’s interfering with utilities.

"The provisions would not apply to commercial or industrial lands or residential parcels that, by county code, can’t be divided again into smaller parcels. ..."


...while Eugene allows 250% of that number of trees per parcel to be cut without permit, and still routinely permits larger urban clearcuts done for mere commercial logging income. Time for tree preservation reform in Eugene?

- KMM


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