Tree Ordinance (3)

The e-mails are flowing fast and furious about a proposed tree ordinance. As I understand it, the Planning Commission is sending a missive back to the Council requesting further direction about what we want. As I have already written, I believe 95% of the residents of Normandy Park are responsible stewards of the trees on their lots and, therefore if we we need to craft a law, it must be one that stops the other 5% from destroying their lots (and damaging the values of their neighbors' lots) by egregious actions.

What prompted this update was an e-mail (forwarded indirectly to me) from a claimed former debate coach wanting proof that a tree cut at SW 206th and First Avenue South would have a direct impact on salmon in Walker Creek. I was not a debater so I don't know the debating term for this kind of an argument but I do recognize its speciousness. Any lot near First Avenue South and SW 206th is in the Des Moines Creek watershed (i. e. storm water that was not taken up by the (former) tree at that location would flow into Des Moines Creek, not Walker Creek) so any "direct" impacts to salmon would be to those in Des Moines Creek, not Walker Creek. Also the impact of cutting one tree would probably be minimal; however, clear cutting a lot there might have a measurable impact on the storm water runoff (and erosion) that would impact Des Moines Creek. This might not directly impact salmon in the creeks in Normandy Park but one of our goals is not only not to be bad neighbors to each other but also not to be bad to our adjacent cities.

I would hope that we can conduct the discussion on this subject with a regard for the truth and not to try to score debating points.