A story from City of Lakewood.
What is the City of Lakewood doing now to protect trees?
Chapter 18A of the Lakewood Municipal Code regulates land use and development, and section 18A.70 Article III regulates tree preservation. The City also observes LMC Title 14, Environmental Protection and the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA).
The removal of “significant” trees is regulated, and incentives help preserve trees that benefit the community and environment.
“When a tree is cut down illegally, the responsible party will answer for it. We will stop work, we will issue fines, and we will take you to court. Sometimes the process takes time, but we do not go away. The city is not opposed to civil litigation beyond the issuance of infractions. We mean business.”
- Dave Bugher, Director of Community & Economic Development.
Violations of tree preservation code are punishable by fines and legal action. Recent violators were fined $55,200 in 2015, $30,000 in 2018, $73,467 in 2020, and $28,700 in 2021. Another violator is pending litigation.
Learn more at the City of Lakewood website.
Mandy Candler says
The City needs a Tree Preservation task force immediately. The team should have an arborist, concerned citizens, and perhaps a representative from the Community Development office ((Mr. Bugher?). Its mission should be to research communities that actually have “teeth” in their tree preservation policies
( Oak Harbor, Wa, for example), what monetary fine is ample enough to discourage property owners/ developers’ disregard of City laws regarding trees, and ways for City Planners to manage concrete-growth (warehouses) and still protect our City’s tree cover. This plan should then be made actionable by the City. Without action, Lakewood will be a barren landscape in short time. Shame on us for spoiling our City and habitat through neglect and greed.
Michelle canright says
All the birds and wildlife are loosing places to live and hunt. I’ve been watching them cutting down all the trees to build all these warehouses. It breaks my heart
Mark S. Pfeiffer says
There undoubtedly are instances of unpermitted significant tree cutting, but the most significant acts of deforestation, particularly of Garry Oaks, is being sanctioned by our own city government. Instead of litigating individual property owners the city shod litigate against the state with a view toward mitigating the environment damage caused by the Growth Management Act.
Derek M. says
Sorry but if you own the property the city has no right to dictate what you can or cannot do because tree’s aren’t covered by building codes or such. City just wants money
Mandy Candler says
Yes home-property trees are covered under City code- it depends on the lot acreage and type of tree, and of course the trees condition as certified by an arborist .
Christina says
Actually there are lots of places in the United States and the world beyond where just because you own a piece of property, it doesn’t mean that you can do whatever you want with it. People can’t really “own” land, even though that is what it is called, and this unhelpful way of thinking must be changed. We are only here for a while, and it is our responsibility to be good caretakers of the land we are living on. Why should a “private property owner” be allowed to cut down a tree that was there for hundreds of years before he was even born? Why should a “private property owner” be allowed to cut down a tree, or even multiple trees, when doing so would affect not only the habitat in his own yard, but also the habitats of the surrounding “private property owners'” yards. If you have many trees next to your house, someone cutting them down would expose your yard and make the previously shady environment there burning hot (as happened to my unfortunate neighbor). It would affect that person’s energy bills for heating and cooling, too. It is not only disregard for the wildlife that live in those trees, but for all those in the surrounding houses who are affected. No one should be able to cut down any trees without regard to the surrounding environment and people, who must be consulted — especially those that are “significant” (which apparently doesn’t matter at all to Lakewood, where you can basically cut down anything you like!).
Bridgie A Graham-Smith says
Finally there will be standard enforcement of the law with high fines as the sharp teeth behind it .
Joseph Boyle says
I am of like minded with Derek M above.
Each time I bought a Lakewood Property, and I bought many Lakewood properties, I bought them with my money, as opposed to the city giving me the property. I used my money to develop, maintain, and improve each property, With those facts in mind, I do not like government telling me what to do with my property.
Is the city going to come out to clean the oak leaves off my roof and out of my gutters? Is Lakewood going to be responsible when a tree or tree branch, known as a “widow maker” comes crashing down and kills someone? Will the city pay my widow millions after refusing to allow a property owner to remove a dangerous tree?
The obvious answer is a resounding no.
The flipside of this discussion is I have had experience using the free tree removal permit process. The application was easy and quick to fill out. The tree inspector came out to inspect in a reasonable time frame. The city agreed that the trees I wished to remove were a problem and I was granted permission to remove 9 trees.
Saving the appearance of the city and helping protect the environment are worthy goals. We just have to be careful that common sense and fairness influence the decisions, not blind bureaucracy.
Joseph Boyle – A guy with an opinion on each and every subject.
Joseph Boyle says
One last thought. I love trees and have a history of being highly hesitent to cut any tree down. Conversely, common sense must prevail and there are cases when a tree must go.
With common sense in control, I have cut many trees and in fact selectively logged property.
While I may hate cutting a tree downl, I control the trees. The Trees do not control me.
But now my saying above must be modified to read, I control the trees: no I don’t, the city controls me and the trees.
Joseph Boyle
Bob Warfield says
In temperate zones around our planet, great cities are Tree Cities. Lakewood should strive to be one, joining the greater urban realm of Fircrest, UP and Tacoma with renewed dedication to the valued presence of nature’s balance in daily life.
Tricia Parsons says
Bob – You are spot on! Thank you.
VM Jones says
When I visit family on the East Coast, the air smells like concrete. Coming back home to Lakewood, so far, the air smells clean and Green. Make your choice, concrete or nature.
R.Lopaka says
And yet the City of Lakewood destroyed almost 200 trees during its recent Onyx Drive street “improvement”. No plantings to replace the destroyed trees. Lots of new concrete and NO new trees.
Christina says
Oh no! Oak trees were destroyed on Onyx, too?
I guess just more proof of how good the City of Lakewood’s “Tree Preservation” policies are! :-(((
mandy Candler says
and this is why the City spent our taxpayer money to make a video on their “wonderful” tree policy: to “tell” us that they really, truly care about trees. In fact, project after project, development after development, trees are the least of the City’s concern. Time to coalesce for our Lakewood trees, before they are gone, folks.
Christina says
Oh no! Oak trees were destroyed on Onyx, too?
I guess just more proof of how good the City of Lakewood’s “Tree Preservation” policies are! :-(((
Robert says
Good points. Unfortunately, you are the exception – someone who thinks beyond the next hour or week!
R
Robert says
I’ve watched the Lakewood situation from Whidbey Island, and while we have our own troubles, I’m not convinced by this promotional video. It would have been a better use of taxpayer funds to produce a balanced video, because all one needs to do is search the public records in Lakewood, and many, many other places, to find very poor management of our natural resources. If for no other reason, be reasonable in your management of your private property because natures serves humans. That’s a base, utilitarian view, but it is sadly where a lot of people are at.
MICHAEL T YADRICK says
Heat doesn’t lie. This data is from street level heat mapping that Tacoma carried out about four years ago during a heat wave. Blue around the lakes and Puget Sound and where there is canopy cover. Red generally indicates impervious surface that absorbs the energy from the sun and only slowly releases it at night. Elevated temperatures at night over extended period of days are killers – for people and trees. https://climatecope.research.pdx.edu/tacoma/uhi/wm_af/#12/47.2493/-122.4457
TRE says
With no wood (trees) the lake will go away and you no longer have Lakewood.
Elementary thinking.
Plant trees and live with the current trees. If you are not a fan of clogged gutters and mossy roofs move….
to places with names like Sunnyside, name implies no trees. Don’t move to, say, Lake Forest Park, implies trees.
See, simple.
Christina says
Exactly! That’s what I always say! Let people buy properties elsewhere if they don’t like trees. There are plenty of places without them.
If the City of Lakewood strengthens their tree protections, they don’t have to be afraid that it will drive away people who would buy property here: it will simply attract the kind of people who we want to live here! Those who appreciate trees!
We don’t have to take the first person who comes along — it will make Lakewood a better place to live, and people will even pay a premium to live in a city that values its trees. Especially considering what the future seems to hold in store for us.