City Of Reno: City Of Reno Looking For Community Input On Tree Protection Ordinance

Press release from the City of Reno:

01/06/2022 11:44 AM

The City of Reno is in the process of updating its tree protection standards and is looking for community input and feedback.

The draft ordinance is available for review at Reno.gov/Trees, where the public can also find more information about the project, a list of input opportunities, an option to subscribe to updates, and a form to submit comments online. The draft ordinance incorporates the Reno Urban Forestry Commission’s recommendations.

Residents and stakeholders are invited to a series of upcoming virtual workshops, open houses, and Neighborhood Advisory Board (NAB) meetings to learn more about the draft ordinance and provide input. Click the links below for registration information:

• Thursday, January 6, 3-5 p.m.: Virtual Stakeholder Workshop
• Tuesday, January 11, 5:30 p.m.: Ward 1 NAB 
• Tuesday, January 11, 5:30 p.m.: Ward 5 NAB
• Thursday, January 13, 3-5 p.m.: Virtual Stakeholder Workshop
• Thursday, January 13, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.: Virtual Public Workshop
• Tuesday, January 18, 5:30 p.m.: Ward 2 NAB
• Thursday, January 20: Ward 4 NAB
• Thursday, January 27, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.: *Virtual Open House
• Friday, January 28, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.: *Virtual Open House 

*Details will be provided prior to these virtual events at Reno.gov/Trees.

The Ward 3 NAB heard a presentation on the Tree Protection Ordinance on Tuesday, January 4.

Purpose of the Tree Protection Ordinance

If approved by the Reno City Council, the Tree Protection Ordinance would help further implement the City of Reno's tree canopy-related goals and policies outlined in its ReImagine Reno Master Plan, Urban Forestry Management Plan, Sustainability & Climate Action Plan, Downtown Action Plan, and through the Urban Land Institute (ULI) Advisory Services Program.

This ordinance is intended to increase the tree canopy within the City by supporting the retention of healthy trees and updating replacement requirements for removed trees on both public and private properties.

Overall, it clarifies and expands tree protection standards, clarifies maintenance responsibilities, and streamlines procedures and enforcement.

Benefits of Trees

Trees, plants and other landscaping materials provide economic, environmental and social benefits to the community as a whole. These include improving air quality by reducing carbon emissions, reducing the urban heat island effect, lowering heating/cooling costs and energy consumption, creating wildlife habitat, increasing property values, filtering noise, and reducing stormwater pollution. 

Next Steps

Following the community input process, the Reno Urban Forestry Commission and Planning Commission will consider the revised draft ordinance. The Reno City Council will consider the draft ordinance later this year.

This press release was produced by the City of Reno. The views expressed here are the author’s own.