As cities across the U.S. grapple with housing shortages, the clash between development and tree preservation is becoming more pronounced, especially in places like Seattle.
Trees provide crucial benefits in the fight against climate change, offering cooling shade, absorbing carbon pollution, and mitigating stormwater runoff.
However, many builders view trees as obstacles in their push to construct new homes efficiently.
Seattle now stands at a crossroads as a new state law mandates increased housing density without additional tree protection measures.
One innovative solution gaining traction is the integration of housing development with tree preservation, exemplified by the Bryant Heights project in northeast Seattle.
Here, architects Ray and Mary Johnston collaborated with developers to transform four housing units into 86, all while preserving more than 30 trees on site, including stunning Douglas firs, cedars, and oaks.
Mary Johnston highlights their approach: “The first question is never, how can we get rid of that tree, but how can we save that tree and build something unique around it?”
She points out townhomes designed around two mature tree groves, illustrating how development can coexist with nature.
One notable tree at Bryant Heights is a majestic deodar cedar, towering more than 100 feet and with a canopy spreading over 40 feet in diameter.
This tree not only cools nearby structures but also fosters community interaction among residents, becoming a beloved part of their environment.
The preservation of such trees required thorough negotiations with local authorities.
The Johnstons had to demonstrate that their construction methods would not harm the tree, agreeing to use porous concrete for sidewalks to allow water to access the roots.
Megan Neuman, who oversees land use policy at Seattle’s Department of Construction and Inspections, underscores the city’s commitment to tree protection, with updated codes that allow tree removal only under limited circumstances.
She states, “That’s really to try to help find that balance between housing and trees and growing our canopy.”
Despite these efforts, a recent assessment showed that Seattle’s urban canopy declined by half a percent from 2016 to 2021, equivalent to about 255 acres of green space lost.
The largest decreases occurred in residential zones and parks, raising alarms among tree-protection advocates.
In response, the city’s Office of Sustainability and Environment has initiated tree-planting efforts in public spaces while also ensuring that newly planted trees receive proper care in the years following their planting.
Moreover, the updated tree protection ordinance mandates increased replacement requirements; for every tree removed, developers must plant three new ones.
The city aims to reach a 30% canopy coverage by 2037.
Many developers, including Cameron Willett of Intracorp, have welcomed these newer regulations, viewing them as predictable and flexible enough to support both housing and tree integration.
Willett remarks, “I definitely have projects I’ve done this year where I’ve taken out a tree that, under the old code, I would not have been able to do.
But I’ve also had to replant both on and off-site.”
He recalls a project where he managed to preserve a mature tree by demonstrating that the site could be developed without damaging it, acknowledging the additional complexities and costs involved.
Despite these challenges, Willett believes that preserving trees during development is beneficial, stating, “Trees make better communities.”
On the other hand, organizations like Tree Action Seattle express concerns about the ongoing tree removals for new housing developments.
The alarming heat dome over the Pacific Northwest in summer 2021, which resulted in numerous heat-related deaths, has heightened awareness of the role trees play in community health and climate resilience.
Joshua Morris, conservation director at Birds Connect Seattle, emphasizes the stark temperature differences in leafier neighborhoods compared to those with fewer trees—sometimes as much as a 10-degree variance.
South Park, for example, is a neighborhood with a mere 12% to 15% tree canopy coverage, significantly lower than the city’s average, correlating with lower life expectancy rates as residents face more significant pollution and heat risks.
With ongoing development in South Park, plans to replace several trees with 22 new housing units have sparked debate.
Morris believes that minor adjustments in building configurations could enable the preservation of existing trees, suggesting sustainability should guide urban planning.
Seattle’s updated tree code permits tree removals under certain conditions, including a requirement for developers to plant replacements or contribute to a reforestation fund.
Yet, critics argue that newly planted trees take years to mature, delaying climate mitigation efforts at a time when immediate action is critical.
Morris warns, “This really is death by a million cuts,” pointing out that tree loss across the city has reached thousands annually.
He stresses, “At that scale, the cooling effect of the trees is diminished, and the increased risk of death from excessive heat is heightened.”
This issue is not unique to Seattle, as similar trends are observed in cities nationwide, from Portland to Charleston and Nashville.
Portland State University geography professor Vivek Shandas argues that municipal codes fail to address the urgent need for tree conservation in the face of climate challenges.
He notes, “If we don’t take swift and very direct action with conservation of trees, of existing canopy, we’re going to see the entire canopy shrink.”
With climate change leading to more extreme weather patterns, Shandas emphasizes that Seattle must rethink growth strategies to enhance tree protection, avert urban heat, and mitigate flooding risks.
The architects Ray and Mary Johnston propose a design-focused approach to development that prioritizes tree preservation.
At another project they designed, the Boulders, they transformed a single-family lot into a complex with nine townhomes centered around a preserved 40-year-old Scotch pine.
They salvaged and transplanted mature trees from other sites to enrich the community landscape, asserting that thoughtful design can result in both increased housing and enhanced green space.
Mary Johnston highlights the financial benefits, noting that the presence of trees can lower cooling costs for air-conditioned units in the neighborhood.
Ray Johnston advocates for incentivizing such designs in the city’s building codes, especially crucial in light of the ongoing climate crisis.
“Would you rather be living here with the shade we have … or would you rather be in a much more urban, treeless, shadeless environment?” he asks.
The challenges facing Seattle reflect a broader dilemma in urban development amidst climate change, as cities strive to accommodate growing populations while preserving vital environmental resources.
As Seattle looks to the future, the balance between housing needs and tree conservation will undoubtedly shape its urban landscape and the health of its residents.
image source from：https://www.kuow.org/stories/in-seattle-preserving-trees-while-increasing-housing-supply-is-a-climate-solution
