Below is a generic letter that you can change to your liking. Please emphasize Save Redding’s Trees!

Letter Template: Please mix it up in your letter with your own personal perspective or just a few short sentences.

Dear Planning Commissioners,

I am writing to express my deep concern about the continuing loss of native trees and our tree canopy in Redding. I urge you to take action in implementing a more comprehensive and effective tree ordinance for the protection and preservation of our urban trees.

Trees play a vital role in enhancing the quality of life in our community by providing numerous environmental, social, and economic benefits. They contribute to improved air and water quality, reduce energy consumption, and enhance the overall aesthetics of our city. However, ongoing developments and increasing urbanization pose significant threats to our tree canopy.

The existing tree ordinance falls short in addressing the challenges our city faces, and I believe it is crucial to update and strengthen the ordinance to better reflect the current needs of our community. Specifically, consider the following key elements in the revised tree ordinance:

1. Comprehensive Protection: Ensure that the ordinance covers all types of native trees.trees and provides protection for both public and private trees.

2. Require sufficient mitigation for the removal of oak trees when they cannot be preserved during development.

3. Tree Replacement Requirements: Establish clear guidelines for the replacement of removed trees. Tree replacement or mitigation fees should be higher than a 1:1 ration, they should be a 3:1 or higher for oak trees

4. Incentives for Preservation: Introduce incentives for property owners who actively preserve and maintain healthy trees on their premises.

I believe that an updated and comprehensive tree ordinance should provide incentives for the protection of native trees and mitigation fees or planting of new trees greater than the number of trees removed considering the many years it will take for replacement trees to grow and equal the canopy cover lost.

Thank you for your attention to this critical issue. I look forward to witnessing positive changes in the protection and preservation of our urban trees.

Sincerely,

Draft provided by Shasta Environmental Alliance