PR 26-0274 Legislature · 26th Council Period (2025-2026)

Parkside Canopy Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2025

This resolution seeks to exempt specific Heritage Trees in the Parkside mixed-use development (Lots 865-869, Square 5056, Ward 7) from the Urban Forest Preservation Act's permit requirements for tree removal. It directly affects the Parkside project, which includes 209 affordable housing units and retail space (like a grocery store), already approved before the 2016 tree protection amendments. The resolution declares an emergency to bypass standard removal permits, arguing the project’s existing park and green space offset the tree loss. It aims to expedite the development’s construction without requiring the usual Special Tree removal permits under current law.
Bill status signed all 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jul 2025
Committee Review
Council Passage
Jul 2025
Signed into Law
Jul 2025
Introduced Jul 9, 2025 Signed Jul 14, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduction → Enrollment · 3 edits
MINOR
The bill was converted from a proposed resolution to an enrolled original version, indicating it has been formally adopted by the Council. The substantive policy content remains largely the same, with only minor formatting adjustments and the addition of specific legal citations for the Urban Forest Preservation Act. The emergency declaration to exempt five specific Heritage Trees from removal requirements for the Parkside development project is preserved.
TECHNICAL

The document format changed from a proposed resolution to an enrolled original, indicating formal adoption and final passage through the legislative process.

Specific legal citations were added to Section 2(a) and 2(b), including effective dates and official code references for the Urban Forest Preservation Act and Tree Canopy Protection Amendment Act.

Page headers and formatting markers were removed during the conversion to the enrolled version.

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
6
Key actions
1
Committee
0
Jul 14, 2025
Council · Passed
Council Vote: pass (11-0-1)
council
Jul 9, 2025
Introduced
PR26-0274 Introduced by Councilmember Felder at Office of the Secretary
legislature
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Wendell Felder
Wendell Felder
DDemocratic
DC
Ward 7