Bellevue City Site

HCCA Weather

E-MAIL HCCA

ABOUT HCCA

Articles, News and Photo LIBRARY >> City of Bellevue Tree Strategy

Comments from City of Bellevue Arborist
In September, 2005 I had a chance to meet with Kevin LeClair, Urban Forester for City of Bellevue. We met to chat about trees in the Horizon Crest greenbelts, and what the City's point of view is with regard to topping, dropping, leaving in place.

Kevin explained that the City is focusing on a long-term plan for the green belts and forests. The first phase of a forest is the growth of "leafy" trees (maples, alders, etc.), and most forests also sprout an undergrowth which is helpful to wildlife. This phase is generally a little more than half a century.

Eventually, those forests become populated with evergreens (firs, cedar, etc.) which tend to overtake the "leafy" trees. These trees can be more easily trimmed in the middle, leaving much of the tree cover at the top of trees for certain wildlife (such as eagles), and leaving the undergrowth available for ground wildlife cover (such as deer). When a forest is maintained during this phase, people tend to be able to look "through" the trees, while preserving the wildlife habitats. It is this model that the city wants to have in most green belts and forests.

So with that goal in mind, the focus is on managing a forest that is best for our environment. While that strategy may, at times, interfere with resident views; the goal is that the forest being cultivated over time will be ideal for all who are affected by it.

In the meantime, the city will graciously review any tree that presents a concern or threat to residents. Just because it's part of a city forest, does not preclude a tree from being removed; although the policy is that tree removal is not done solely to protect a resident's view. Since much of the area was clear-cut in its early development, we are generally in that "first phase" of forest (especially in the South-of-I90 zone) which tends to have leafy trees dominating the evergreens.

Questions for Kevin may be directed to 425.452-2928 or kleclair@ci.bellevue.wa.us.

-Eric Dawes
October 2, 2005

City Article about Tree Permit Requirements

HCCA NOTE: This generally will not affect most tree operations in our neighborhood, but we thought you may want to be aware of modified City regulations regarding tree clearing.

(from City of Bellevue Neighborhood News - May 2005)

Changes made in permit requirements for tree cutting

As part of the City’s Development Services Improvement (DSI) initiative, the director of Planning & Community Development has implemented a change in permit requirements for tree removal.

The clearing and grading code (Bellevue City Code 23.76), states that a permit is required for "disturbance of over 1,000 square feet at grade due to felling or topping of trees." And “disturbance” has been interpreted to mean actual exposure of soil resulting from tree removal (i.e. ruts from vehicle traffic, divots caused by falling tree limbs and trunks, bare soils exposed to rainfall by removal of tree canopy, etc.). Since most residential tree removal causes little disturbance to the ground, City staff use an estimate of 50 square feet of disturbance for each significant tree to be removed. The result is that up to 20 significant trees can be removed from a developed single-family lot without a permit. For larger lots where access must be constructed, causing greater disturbance, estimates of disturbance will be made on a case-by-case basis.

The change was made to reduce regulatory oversight in an area where the benefits are small compared to the cost of regulation. As before, the Land Use Code also restricts vegetation removal and disturbance in Protected Areas (steep slopes, streams, floodplains, wetlands, etc., and their associated primary setbacks). In those areas, the clearing and grading code generally does not allow tree removal. Plat restrictions or private covenants may also restrict tree removal. For more information on tree removal requirements, call 425-452-2019 or e-mail ClearandGradeReview@ci.bellevue.wa.us.