Environment (Forestry)

signed · District of Columbia · Legislature Oct 1, 2025

B 26-0313: Parkside Canopy Temporary Amendment Act of 2025

This bill temporarily exempts Heritage Trees in Lots 865-869 of Square 5056 (Parkside mixed-use development) from removal requirements under the Urban Forest Preservation Act. It applies only to trees on these specific lots where a planned unit development was approved by the Zoning Commission before July 1, 2016. The exemption expires 225 days after the bill takes effect.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentExempts heritage trees from Urban Forest Preservation Act requirements, allowing removal and weakening conservation protections for specific trees in a development area.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Forestry

signed · District of Columbia · Legislature Oct 1, 2025

B 26-0320: Long Bridge Project Temporary Amendment Act of 2025

This bill temporarily amends the Urban Forest Preservation Act to allow removal of Heritage Trees near the Long Bridge Project (managed by Virginia Passenger Rail Authority) under specific conditions. It requires the Mayor to issue a permit only if: no design alternative avoids the tree, the tree cannot be protected in place, relocation costs exceed $1 million or would cause public burden, and the applicant pays $1,200 per inch of tree circumference. The amendment applies solely to this project and expires 225 days after enactment. It directly affects developers of the Long Bridge Project and the District’s tree preservation enforcement process.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill temporarily allows removal of protected heritage trees under specific conditions, weakening urban forest preservation requirements in the Urban Forest Preservation Act for a project.90% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationEnables Long Bridge Project (rail infrastructure) by allowing tree removal under strict conditions, facilitating transportation project implementation without restricting transit or infrastructure development.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Forestry Bridges Rail

signed · District of Columbia · Legislature Jul 25, 2025

PR 26-0274: 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.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentExempts Heritage Trees from Urban Forest Preservation Act permit requirements, weakening tree protection regulations for a development project.90% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingExempts trees to facilitate construction of 209 affordable housing units in Parkside project, enabling completion of approved housing development.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Forestry Natural Disasters Parks & Recreation Affordable Housing Historic Preservation Property Development

died · District of Columbia · Legislature Jul 9, 2025

B 26-0298: Parkside Canopy Temporary Amendment Act of 2025

This bill temporarily exempts specific Heritage Trees in Lots 865-869 of Square 5056 (Parkside mixed-use development) from removal restrictions under the Urban Forest Preservation Act. It applies only to trees in this area where a planned unit development was approved by the Zoning Commission before July 1, 2016. The exemption is temporary, expiring 225 days after the bill takes effect, and does not change general tree protection rules for other areas.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentExempts Heritage Trees from removal restrictions under Urban Forest Preservation Act, weakening tree protection rules for this specific area95% confidence

Sub-Topics Forestry

Track

signed · District of Columbia · Legislature Aug 8, 2025

B 26-0319: Long Bridge Project Emergency Amendment Act of 2025

This emergency bill modifies the Urban Forest Preservation Act to allow removal of Heritage Trees adjacent to the Long Bridge Project (managed by Virginia Passenger Rail Authority) under specific conditions. The Mayor must issue permits if no design alternative avoids the tree, in-place protection is impossible, relocation costs exceed $1 million or causes public burden, and the project pays $1,200 per inch of tree circumference. It directly affects the Long Bridge Project developers and Heritage Tree owners by creating a streamlined removal process for trees on or near the project site. The bill is temporary, taking effect immediately but lasting only 90 days as an emergency measure.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill modifies Urban Forest Preservation Act to allow Heritage Tree removal for Long Bridge Project, weakening conservation requirements by permitting exceptions to tree protection.90% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill removes regulatory barriers for Long Bridge Project (transportation infrastructure) by allowing heritage tree removal, enabling project advancement. Directly supports transportation infrastructure development.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Forestry Bridges Rail

died · District of Columbia · Legislature Jul 9, 2025

B 26-0297: Parkside Canopy Emergency Amendment Act of 2025

This bill exempts specific Heritage Trees in the Parkside mixed-use development project from removal requirements under the Urban Forest Preservation Act. It directly affects the Parkside project (Lots 865-869, Square 5056) by allowing tree removal to proceed without violating heritage tree protections, as the Zoning Commission approved the project before July 1, 2016. The key provision amends the 2002 law to exclude these trees from preservation rules, enabling the development to move forward. The exemption applies only to the specified lots and is structured as an emergency measure.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentExempts heritage trees from preservation rules, weakening urban forest protections for development approval under Urban Forest Preservation Act.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingExempts heritage trees to allow Parkside mixed-use development to proceed, enabling housing construction by removing preservation barriers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Forestry Historic Preservation Property Development Zoning

Track

died · District of Columbia · Legislature Jul 9, 2025

PR 26-0255: Parkside Canopy Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2025

This resolution (PR 26-0255) declares an emergency to exempt five Heritage Trees in the Parkside mixed-use development (Lots 865-869, Square 5056, Ward 7) from the District’s Urban Forest Preservation Act requirements. It directly affects the Parkside project, which includes 209 affordable housing units and retail space (like a grocery store), by allowing removal of these specific trees without a Special Tree removal permit. The resolution bypasses standard tree protection rules to support the project’s economic development, noting the development already created new green space to offset the tree loss. This is an emergency declaration, not a new law, and takes effect immediately.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentExempts trees from Urban Forest Preservation Act, bypassing conservation requirements to allow removal for development project.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Forestry Natural Disasters

Track

signed · District of Columbia · Legislature Jul 25, 2025

PR 26-0278: Long Bridge Project Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2025

This resolution declares an emergency to temporarily amend the District's Urban Forest Preservation Act, allowing the removal of a Heritage Tree directly on the Long Bridge Project site. It specifically affects the Long Bridge Project (managed by the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority and DC's Department of Transportation), which needs to remove an American Elm tree blocking construction. The key provision requires applicants to prove the tree cannot be protected in place or relocated without excessive cost ($1 million+) or public disruption, and mandates payment of $1,200 per inch of the tree's circumference ($37,890 total for this tree). This exception enables the project to proceed without violating current Heritage Tree protections.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill amends Urban Forest Preservation Act to allow removal of Heritage Tree for construction, overriding conservation requirements and weakening environmental protections.85% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationRemoves tree barrier for Long Bridge Project (transportation infrastructure), enabling construction. Directly facilitates transportation project completion managed by DOT and rail authority.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Forestry Natural Disasters Bridges Rail

signed · District of Columbia · Legislature Aug 8, 2025

B 26-0312: 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.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentExempts specific heritage trees from preservation requirements, weakening urban forest protections under the Urban Forest Preservation Act.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Forestry