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Daryl Tapio <br />P.D. Box 69736, Seattle WA 98168, <br />Email: dtolymplc(@yahoo.com. Phone (206)9313998 <br />Carol Lumb and Sandra Whiting March 12, 2013 <br />Tukwila Planning Dept. <br />City of Tukwila <br />6200 Southcenter Blvd SENT VIA EMAIL <br />Tukwila, WA 98188 <br />CC: Tukwila City Council, Planning Commission, Mayor, and City Administrator <br />RE: Comments on Staff Comp Plan Amendment Proposal on Urban Forestry <br />Attn: Carol and Sandra <br />I reviewed the Tukwila Planning Department's proposed Comp Plan Amendments that were <br />posted on the city website for the March 13, 2013 Tree Committee meeting. I have also attended <br />two committee meetings and listened to the audio of the last meeting. I have the following <br />comments to share with the Committee, Staff, Mayor, Council, and Planning Commission. This <br />will also be shared with property owners in Tukwila and throughout the region. <br />There are two paths to choose with tree and environmental policy; paths that diverge significantly <br />in the cost of administration, reputation for a municipality, and the outcomes for positive <br />development and tree canopy. <br />One path is a positive approach that involves education, organizing tree planting programs, <br />preparing recommended tree lists and sharing best practices, and helping property owners achieve <br />their dreams of improving their property. This path recognizes the complexity of redevelopment <br />and the many factors that go into a property owner's decision to modify their homes or property. <br />The other path is a negative approach that starts with the assumption that property owners make <br />poor decisions regarding their landscaping and need to be micromanaged by the city and <br />monitored closely by neighbors utilizing methods such as 24/7 hotlines. This involves transferring <br />the control of trees from the property owners to the city and then requiring permits, expensive <br />surveys /studies/reports from so- called experts, regulations, code enforcement, penalties, tree <br />assessments, financial guarantees, covenants, maintenance agreements, and prohibiting any <br />construction activity in large diameter areas around trees. This path involves the city being an <br />obstacle for property owners in the effort to improve their property. <br />According to the Canopy Report dated Dec. 2012, residential property owners in Tukwila without <br />government regulations are currently doing an exceptional job protecting tree canopies in <br />residential areas. For single - family property the tree canopy is 47 %, and for multi - family 51 %, <br />numbers much higher than many other cities. This empirical data is being ignored and arbitrary <br />goals of desired canopy targets are being proposed. <br />Tapio Letter, Page 1 of 2 <br />WA <br />