18140 84 Ave W Hazard tree approval letter.pdfCITY OF EDMONDS
1215 th Avenue North, Edmonds WA 98020
Phone: 425.771.0220 e Fax: 425.771.0221 9 Web: www.edmondswa.gov
DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT* PLANNING DIVISION
'11C. 19 9\J
March 6, 2015
Connie Jacobson
1814084 th Ave. W.
Edmonds, WA 98020
Subject: Hazard Tree Removal — Allowed Activity
Dear Ms. Jacobson,
On March 4, 2015, your arborist, Glenn Simpson, submitted materials to the City of Edmonds in
support of a request to remove four maple trees located on a steep slope on the north and
south sides of your house. The materials included a letter from your arborist and a tree risk
assessment form for each of the four maple trees.
The slope where the trees are located is considered to be a critical area pursuant to Edmonds
Community Development Code (ECDC) Chapters 23.40 and 23.80 where slopes from 15% to
40% and in excess of 40% may be considered potential erosion hazards or landslide hazards.
Generally, the removal of trees or vegetation within a critical area or critical area buffer is not
an allowed activity unless it involves the removal of invasive species or hazard trees, pursuant
to ECDC 23.40.220.C.7.
Based on the information provided and a discussion with Mr. Simpson, the four maple trees are
clearly in advanced decline and therefore are candidates for removal. In this case, the removal
is considered to be an allowed activity relative to the critical areas code referenced above and
no further critical area reports are required. Per ECDC 23.40.220.C.7.b(ii), the tree should be
converted into a wildlife snag, unless your arborist recommends leaving a smaller stump or
flush cutting due to decay lower on the tree. All vegetation cut must be left in the nearby area
unless removal is warranted due to potential for disease or pest transmittal or to improve slope
stability.
According to ECDC 23.40.220.C.7.b(iv), hazard trees that are removed from critical areas as an
allowed activity must be replaced at a ratio of two -to -one. Replacement trees must be native
and indigenous and a minimum of six feet in height from the top of the root ball for evergreen
species or one inch in diameter at breast height for deciduous species. Multi -stemmed trees
should be a minimum of eight feet in height at installation. Mr. Simpson recommended using
Western Red Cedar as replacement trees. Alternative native species are allowed as long as the
replacement is done at 2:1 somewhere on the site.
An exemption for the tree cutting is granted with the following conditions:
1. Only the four maple trees identified in the Basic Tree Risk Assessment Form may be cut.
2. The replacement trees must be a minimum of 6-feet in height consistent with ECDC
23.40.220.C.7.b.iv and must be planted within one year of tree the tree cutting activity.
Replacement trees should be planted in the generally vicinity of the trees which are
removed.
3. If the identified replacement trees cannot be found in the required size, substitute
replacement trees that are native and indigenous to the area may be approved by the
Planning Division. Please contact the City before substituting replacement tree species.
4. A plan for the replacement trees must be submitted to the City of Edmonds within two
weeks of the tree removal. You can mail or deliver this plan to the planning office or
email the plan to me.
If you have any questions, please contact me at sean.conrad@edmondswa.gov or 425-771-
0220.
Sincerely,
Sean Conrad, AICP
Associate Planner
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