Please Support HB 459 I encourage full support for HB 459. I live in Arlington, VA and have been here for 35 years. When I first moved in, out neighborhood had an extensive tree canopy. I could not see my neighbors' back yard. I had two large southern red oaks in my backyard, and my neighbor had a huge Black Oak, half of which hung over my fence and provided shade. I had to grow shade plants in my backyard. My neighbor also had a mature poplar. All four of these trees are gone. The 3 oaks succumbed to General Oak Decline. The 4th to storm damage. Our neighborhood has change a lot since then 1987: I now have a sunny backyard, I have replaced one oak that died 5 years ago, and will replace the oak removed last fall this spring. My neighbors have not replaced the trees they have lost. Our summer night low tempuratures have slowly increased to 80 to 84 degrees from the low to mid 70's when I first moved here, in part from loss of tree canopy. National airport noise had gotten an order of magnitude louder because we have lost so many trees. Arlington County land costs are so high, developers will grade a steep lot flat at relatively little additional cost before building a new house. This involves cutting most trees on a lot down. Houses in Arlington have grown in size significantly in the last ten years, increasing impervious surface area, exacerbating problems in our storm water system which was not designed for so much run off. Trees contribute to slowing storm water flows. Fewer trees mean scouring of our small and large creek and stream valleys. Arlington County Right of Ways provide for very narrow sidewalks and often no planting strip between the sidewalk and curb. This limits the space for tree planting in public ROWs. Being such a dense community that is close to DC and includes the vast expanse of heat absorbing National Airport, the heat island impact in Arlington is significant. Localities should be able to use tree planting to ameliorate what will inevitably be hotter communities. We are a walkable community, so we will need shade in the summer. The American Dream used to include a house with a picket fence with a backyard for the kids to play. We are losing our backyards and trees because of the land costs here, and apparently large houses and smaller yards with no trees are more popular now than in the past. So we need more mechanisms to increase or tree canopy. I urge you to support HB 459. Many Thanks.

Please support HB459. This is a great step towards protecting Arlington’s irreplaceable natural treasures for generations to come. It will also protect and preserve our infrastructure at minimal expense in the face of the rising costs of climate change. Flooding in our neighbors in DC and Alexandria costs tens of millions (for floodgates, damages to homes and businesses— and even more $ for lawsuits). not to mention disruption to peoples’ and businesses’ lives and the damage to the environment. HB459 will help ensure more trees, which will protect us, our property values and the environment for now and generations to come. It will help retain current residents and businesses —and continue to make it an attractive destination for new residents and businesses.

Please support HB 459, to allow localities to preserve more than a miniscule 20% of tree canopy when lots are built up. May I quote an unkown source "The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The next best time is now."

Please support HB459, which: ● Increases the canopy credits a developer receives if they preserve high-value mature trees or stands of trees. ● Expands how the tree fund can be used. Currently the fund is limited to non-profits for planting on municipal property; however, some municipalities have limited available planting space. Changes to the conservation language would allow a locality to plant on both public AND private property as well as use the funds to help maintain newly planted trees. ● Virginia has signed on to the Bay Agreement and is far behind in meeting its urban tree canopy goals. By passing statewide legislation, localities are better prepared to achieve this important goal to help improve water quality in our local rivers and streams as well as the Chesapeake Bay.

Please support HB459. It is important that our tree canopy keep up with increased population density and the detrimental effects that density has on the health of Arlingtonians, including air quality and urban heat pockets. Thank you!

Comments Document

<p>I urge you to support HB 459. Tree canopy serves as an analog for pervious surfaces that hold rainfall in place, reducing runoff and flash flooding—a growing problem in many communities across Virginia.</p> <p>Here in Arlington County, as we have seen heat-trapping, water-shedding impervious surfaces grow, we have witnessed an accelerated loss of tree canopy: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/6421b46fd51a423c71bed2a6/t/64a3254edb2bfa07a6c4e7d8/1688413520376/6-23+Arlington+Tree+Canopy+Final_lower_resolution.pdf</p> <p>The result: Flash flooding now occurs regularly—blocking roads; inundating basements, homes and businesses; and inflicting millions of dollars in damages: https://twitter.com/Paulojmendes1/status/1148276323036684288</p> <p>Given that Arlington and Alexandria are the most densely population communities in Virginia, with urbanization continuing to increase at a rapid pace, local conditions vary significantly from communities elsewhere across the state.</p> <p>Rather than being restricted to state-wide mandates of 10% coverage, local communities need additional flexibility to tailor rules that address local conditions. A blanket rule across all of Virginia can no longer meet local needs.</p> <p>This bill allows counties and cities across the state the ability to better control and maintain their tree canopy—enabling localities to adjust canopy figures to address the health and safety needs facing their communities.</p> <p>Please support HB 459. Thank you.</p>

Please support HB459. We need to ensure that tree are preserved for future generations to enjoy the planet. Once trees are removed for development, there is no way to replace them.

Please support HB459. Common sense dictates and science shows that more trees add beauty (improved mental health!), create more animal habitats, and help in the fight against climate change.

Please support HB459 to protect our existing mature tree canopy and to reestablish and expand it, in Arlington County and elsewhere in our beautiful state of Virginia!

Please support HB459. Arlington needs more trees!

Please pass HB459 which begins to address one of the biggest challenges of our time: preserving tree canopy and its role as a natural bulwark against climate change. Arlington alone has lost a significant percentage of canopy in just the last half-dozen years. Similar trends across the Commonwealth jeopardize the environment and all the benefits it offers each and every resident--from mental and physical health, cleaner air, reduced flooding, to combating global warming--and other benefits! Please pass this key bill for the sake of this generation and those to come.

HB 459 Trees; conservation during land development - This bill should become law. Virginia is far behind in meeting its urban tree canopy goals under the Chesapeake Bay Agreement. Tree canopy loss must be reversed.

Please support bills HB 170 and HB 459. Virginia continues to lose tree canopy amazingly fast, which hurts our ability to improve water quality, decrease flooding and mitigate heat and air quality effects of climate change. Virginia has signed onto The Bay Agreement and is far behind in meeting its urban tree canopy goals. HB 170 includes canopy credits for saving high-value mature trees and tree stands to incentivize preservation and has a minimum post-construction canopy coverage percentage and would cover the whole state rather than just northern Virginia. HB 459 would further strengthen the current "conservation during land development process".

We support HB 459 because it encourages developers and builders to take all necessary precautions to preserve existing healthy trees on site and do this work before a site plan is submitted for approval. This is critical because these mature trees are often an afterthought in the permitting and building process. In recent years, we've seen major growth in the City of Richmond with much-needed housing and business growth, yet, green space isn't protected. As an environmental justice organization, we advocate for impacted communities, especially in formerly redlined neighborhoods, experiencing higher temperatures, greater flooding, and chronic illnesses associated with environmental conditions. As communities grow and we increase density, we need trees to cool neighborhoods due to those urban heat islands and improve overall health outcomes. Additionally, this bill expands the flexibility for a tree fund so new trees are planted AND that funding will maintain those trees -- on public and private property -- to ensure long-term growth and survival.

Comments Document

TO: Members, Virginia House Counties Cities and Towns - Subcommittee #2 FROM: Virginia League of Conservation Voters DATE: January 18, 2024 RE: Virginia LCV Legislative Positions – HB 170, HB 459 On January 18, the House Commerce and Energy Committee will consider the following legislation: HB170 and HB459. We encourage you to SUPPORT HB170 and HB459 HB170 (Keys-Gamarra) Trees; conservation during land development process. This legislation would: Allow all localities in Virginia to adopt tree conservation and preservation ordinances–currently, only cities in Planning District 8 are allowed to do so. Reasons to SUPPORT HB170: Virginia localities must have the authority to conserve existing canopy where possible and replant where it’s not feasible to keep the trees on site in order to prepare our communities for the impacts of climate change Climate-ready communities that are resilient to flash floods, urban heat islands and increased air pollution need trees in their toolbox as a cost-effective strategy to deploy. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ HB459 (Sullivan) Trees; conservation during land development process in certain localities. This legislation would: Strengthen tree conservation by adding incentives to preserve stands of healthy mature trees and expand how certain localities can use their tree fund. Increase the canopy credits a developer receives if they preserve high-value mature trees or stands of trees. Developers who provide a stand assessment prior to submitting a site plan and who take the necessary precautions to protect those trees during construction would receive additional canopy credit Allow a locality to plant on both public AND private property and use funds to help maintain newly planted trees. Reasons to SUPPORT HB170: Virginia continues to lose tree canopy–limiting the Commonwealth’s ability to improve water quality, reduce flooding and mitigate the impact of climate change. Virginia is far behind in meeting its urban tree canopy goals under the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement. If you have any questions about our position, please contact Michael Town, Executive Director of Virginia LCV, at mtown@valcv.org, or Chris Leyen, Policy Director, at cleyen@valcv.org, or 925-354-1433 (mobile).

Fairfax Tree Stewards (FTS) is a Virginia non-profit corporation that preserves, plants, and maintains trees in Fairfax County and vicinity, educates the public on the value and benefits of trees, and encourages them to take an active role in caring for trees. We speak for the trees because the trees cannot speak for themselves. FTS urges the Subcommittee to report out HB459. The bill will strengthen tree canopy funds by providing that the funds may be used for maintenance of trees on public property and planting and maintenance of trees on private property. It also eliminates the provision for unused tree canopy funds to be returned after five years. It is critical to do more to preserve and increase Virginia’s tree canopy. Virginia has signed on to the Bay Agreement, but it is far behind in meeting its urban tree canopy goals. It is altogether unacceptable that Virginia continues to lose tree canopy at an astounding rate, which limits the state’s ability to improve water quality, reduce flooding and mitigate the impact of climate change on the most vulnerable communities. A healthy urban tree canopy reduces flooding, cools our cities, encourages people to walk, reduces stress and asthma. HB459 is a small step toward improving our tree canopy, but it is an important one, and FTS urges the subcommittee to report it out.

Please support both HB170 and HB459 which both promote tree conservation during development. Preserving existing trees is critical for improving air water quality, mitigating flooding, reducing urban heat, and promoting citizen mental health and safety. Virginia is rapidly losing trees to development and is failing to meet goals relating to the Bay Agreement. These bills would benefit Virginians in numerous ways and would help us meet goals we have set.