B 26-0312 Legislature · 26th Council Period (2025-2026)

Parkside Canopy Emergency Amendment Act of 2025

This bill exempts specific heritage trees from removal requirements under the Urban Forest Preservation Act. It applies only to Heritage Trees located in Lots 865-869 within Square 5056 of the Parkside mixed-use development project, as those lots had prior zoning approval before July 2016. The amendment modifies the Urban Forest Preservation Act to explicitly exclude these trees from standard heritage tree protection rules. The exemption is temporary, lasting only 90 days as an emergency measure, and does not affect other heritage trees or development projects.

Issues: ✗ Environment

Sub-Topics: Forestry

Bill status signed all 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jul 2025

Committee Review

Council Passage

Jul 2025

Signed into Law

Aug 2025

Introduced Jul 9, 2025 Signed Aug 1, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduction → Enrollment · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was formatted as an 'Enrolled Original' version, indicating it has passed both the Council and the Mayor. The core policy change adds a new exemption for specific heritage trees in the Parkside development project, but it now requires a mandatory fee payment for any removed trees, whereas the previous version did not mention this fee.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on the same specific lots in the Parkside project, but the applicability of the exemption is now conditional on paying a calculated fee for tree removal.

REQUIREMENT

Added a mandatory requirement to pay a fee calculated at the special tree rate for each heritage tree removed from the exempted lots.

ELIGIBILITY

Modified the exemption criteria to include the condition that a fee must be paid, changing the nature of the exemption from a total removal ban to a fee-based removal allowance.

TECHNICAL

Changed the document format to an 'Enrolled Original' with signatures for the Council Chairman and Mayor, indicating final approval.

Floor votes · Council Jul 14, 2025

How they voted

11–0

Passed · 1 other

Total votes 12

Jul 14, 2025

D Democratic10

9 Yea 1

90% Yea

I Independent2

2 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Jul 14, 2025

Council · Passed

Council Vote: pass (11-0-1)

council

Jul 14, 2025

Introduced

AMENDMENT (Mendelson)

legislature

Jul 9, 2025

Introduced

B26-0312 Introduced by Councilmember Felder at Office of the Secretary

legislature

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors