Dear Members of the Committee, As one of your constituents, I wanted to convey my support for the many tree related bills in front of the committee. These specific Bills will allow localities to more effectively conserve existing trees and maintain newly planted trees. Conserving and increasing Virginia’s tree canopy is critical not only because trees are beautiful, but because they also provide the following crucial benefits: - Reduce flooding - Stormwater runoff reduction - Less heat islands, which leads to reduced energy costs and healthier citizens - Improve air quality and reduce air pollution - Sequester carbon All of these benefits create a win – win – win by helping the environment, improving human health, and providing cost effective positive economic impacts. I hope that you all recognize the critical benefits that trees provide across the state of Virginia and that you will support these bills. Sincerely, Winston Bibee

Comments Document

I am Denise Mosca, a constituent of Keith Hodges in Gloucester County, living at 6977 Ark Road. Please allow HB 529 and HB1100 to pass out of committee to be considered by the House. Because Virginia is a Dillon Rule state, localities need to be granted the flexibility to manage trees specific to their local planning and individual stormwater response. In a 2020 study Virginia Dept. of Forestry VADOF estimated that Virginia is currently losing 14,000 acres annually to land conversion. From 2014 to 2018 Gloucester County has experienced a net loss of 217 acres of tree cover. The 2020 VADOF study delineated the following benefits of trees (see attachment): Trees are a low cost option to provide resilience. Keeping healthy, mature trees on site costs far less than taxpayer-funded programs to construct “hard” storm water infrastructure. HB 529 and HB1100 are local option bills; they provide the freedom to the locality to enact the provisions or not. There is a site specific clause for deviation in HB 529 to address hardship of the developer provided that neighborhood stormwater management and tree preservation goals are considered. Fairfax County has adopted this ordinance package as of 2009 and it has neither slowed nor hindered development or stifled affordable housing initiatives. Virginia has already delegated authority to the localities to implement stormwater plans that make the most sense for their circumstances. Please allow localities the low cost options to maintain and increase tree cover for their stormwater planning and all the benefits that trees provide for Virginia.

Please support HB529

Support HB459; too many trees are being cut down in our neighborhood, causing higher temperatures and more flooding. Trees mitigate these issues, provide shade, and reduce stress. We can't afford to lose them.

HB529 - The Arlington Tree Action Group (a group of 500+ Arlington residents concerned about tree canopy in Arlington) heartily endorses this bill being presented by Delegate Hope. It is critical that the county of Arlington, a county with very high density, have the flexibility to better control their tree canopy preservation. This bill will allow the county more flexibility to regulate tree conservation and planting, given the large zoning changes across the county in 2023 - namely Expanded Housing Options. Thank you.