A recently released analysis may provide the fuel to rekindle ongoing debate about the state of Arlington’s treescape.
“We don’t know if we trust your data. We trust our eyes,” said Elizabeth Grossman of the Arlington Tree Action Group (ATAG), who used the County Board’s Nov. 16 public-comment period to encourage county leaders not to take a victory lap over the new figures.
A consultant’s report released by the county government earlier that week showed an increase in overall tree canopy in Arlington, rising to about 35.2%. While higher than other studies conducted over the past decades, it remains well below the government’s goal of 40%.
The increase from county conducted studies in 2014 (showing 32% canopy) and 2018 (33%) came about largely from existing trees growing and spreading out, rather than a net increase in the number of trees, county staff and a consultant told Board members during a Nov. 13 work session on the topic.
Grossman’s comments were in line with those of Mary Glass of the Arlington Tree Connection (ATC) advocacy group. Immediately after the study was released, Glass told ARLnow that “it fails to reflect the reality that our citizens are experiencing.”
ATAG and ATC often have been dubious about county tree-preservation policy, while county leaders counter that they are doing what they can within the limited powers that have been delegated from the state level.
Board Chair Libby Garvey on Nov. 16 asked the advocates to have “a little bit of trust, just to start with,” suggesting that another round of “warring studies and warring experts” wouldn’t move the ball forward on what she believes are common goals.
“We’re all wanting pretty much the same thing,” Garvey said. “I don’t think we’re hiding anything.”
But in nearly the same breath, Garvey acknowledged “there is a lack of trust” with county government among the public, not just on trees but on a host of issues.
During the several minutes allotted to her, Grossman pressed Board members to focus on lot coverage of new residential developments. “Larger homes [equal] less room for trees,” she said.
In Virginia, localities are often restricted by state supremacy on zoning policy, although the Arlington government in recent years has used available powers to promote more density to residential communities. Its centerpiece effort — the Missing Middle policy — currently is on hold pending the outcome of court challenges that so far have not gone the government’s way.
Often, whether trees are retained as private property goes through the redevelopment process is at the discretion of property owners, and county leaders have even more limited authority to preserve trees outside of that process.
“The vast majority of the tree canopy is out of the control of the county government,” County Manager Mark Schwartz said.
Board member Takis Karantonis, who likely will serve as chair in 2025, said the good news presented in the recent canopy data does not mean county leaders are taking a victory lap.
“We see that we still are at a huge risk of losing trees,” he said.
The new data will be valuable in formulating future policy, Karantonis said.
Arlington is home to an estimated 750,000 trees, or about three for every resident. The county government’s desire to get to 40% tree canopy is part of a regionwide effort launched by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG), seeking to increase the local region’s current 49.6% canopy to at least 50%.
Arlington’s role in that effort will not be meaningless, but will be marginal — the county contains about 16,700 acres of land (some of it occupied by the Pentagon and Reagan National Airport, which have few trees) while COG’s coverage area totals a vast 2.2 million acres.
A community meeting to parse the new tree-canopy figures is slated for Dec. 12.
In other Board action on Nov. 16:
Two Added to Roster of ‘Specimen Trees’: Board members on Saturday (Nov. 16) approved the addition of two “specimen trees” to a government list of those protected from encroachment.
A willow oak at 2411 N. Monroe Street and a dawn redwood at 5610 5th Street S. were added to the list at the request of homeowners of each parcel.
A local ordinance gives county leaders the power to protect specific trees that have exceptional attributes owing to size, type or historical provenance. Reviews take place and additions to the list are made once per year.
According to the code: “Tree conservation is required and tree protection must be provided if development of the site occurs. Non-compliance and violations will result in a civil penalty of up to $2,500.”
Arts Grants Approved: As expected, Board members on Saturday (Nov. 16) approved just under $366,000 in grants to arts organizations and individual artists for the coming year.
The arts-grant program began in the 1990s. Submissions from artists and arts groups are vetted by the Commission for the Arts annually.
Board members as part of their fiscal 2025 budget process approved an additional $100,000 in one-time funds to provide additional arts funding. Criteria for that funding will be announced early in the new year, with grant recipients announced in the spring.
