There's no doubt about it -- Austinites love their trees.
“They provide shade,” said Stacey Paulson. “They are pretty whether I’m out walking my dog or up high in my unit at the 360.”
Now city leaders are considering adding a layer of protection for the oldest and largest trees in Austin. Under a new proposal trees 24 inches in diameter or larger would be classified as "heritage trees." City Arborist Michael Embesi believes the ordinance will help protect more large trees.
“The proposed ordinance raises the bar on our most valuable trees,” he said. “These trees are some of our hardest working city workers. They don’t get vacations. They work night and day. They work in the rain and they work in the heat of the summer. They are constantly working at purifying our air and purifying our water.”
If approved, property owners and developers could not chop down a heritage tree unless it is diseased or dead. A variance would only be granted if there was no other way to save the tree. The new ordinance would also require anyone wanting to remove a heritage tree to present their case at a public hearing at the city's Land Use Board -- something Michael Wilt with the Real Estate Council of Austin is against.
“We're concerned with the affordability aspect,” said Wilt. “It's going to increase the cost of the project, and we don't think there will be a discussion about the tree itself at a public hearing instead it will be an opportunity for people to oppose a project."
His organization believes the public hearing component would delay development and thinks there are better ways to promote tree preservation.
“Instead of the public hearing component, let's talk about stiffer penalties, tougher enforcement and greater mitigation, said Wilt.
A decision could come from council members as early as Thursday night.
