Area tree policy discussed tonight, tomorrow

Clackamas County is having a public review tonight of its new tree ordinance and Portland’s Citywide Tree Project (CTP) has a similar unveiling tomorrow night.

Clackamas County residents and concerned citizens are encouraged to come tonight to the Development Services Building at 6:30 p.m., 150 Beavercreek Road, Oregon City, for an opportunity to speak and comment before the Clackamas County Planning Commission.

Each speaker will have three minutes of allotted time.

The entire ordinance is available online for viewing, as are talking points from the Audubon Society of Portland and the Tualatin Riverkeepers.

Commissioner Dan Saltzman has called Portland’s CTP his No. 1 priority for 2010, and tomorrow night at 6 p.m. residents and other concerned parties will have their opportunity to testify before both the Urban Forestry Commission and the Planning Commission.

“We need to make sure our tree policies are working for trees,” said Saltzman at a Friends of Trees planting Saturday. “We need to make sure we fund this work.”

The hearing will be held on the second floor of the city’s building at 1900 SW 4th Ave.

–Toshio Suzuki