DATE: February 27, 2025
TO: Planning Commission
FROM: Peter Jensen, Landscape Architect
SUBJECT
Title
Work Session on Proposed Text Amendments to the Hayward Municipal Code for the adoption of an updated Tree Preservation Ordinance.
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RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
That the Commission review and provide feedback, as appropriate, on the draft Tree Preservation Ordinance.
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SUMMARY
Hayward Municipal Code Chapter 10, Article 15, Tree Preservation Ordinance, contains guidelines for the preservation of existing trees and the process for removing, replacing, and mitigating the loss of trees covered by the Ordinance. A comprehensive update of the Ordinance, which was last amended in 2002, was included as Program NR-61 of the Natural Resources Element of the General Plan and Special Project CP7 under Champion Climate Resilience and Environmental Justice in the 2025 Strategic Roadmap.
In May 2023, the City hired Dudek to help prepare updates to the City’s Tree Preservation Ordinance, complete a citywide Tree Canopy Survey, and prepare landscaping guidelines for the Hayward Executive Airport. The proposed Amendments are based on best practices in the field of tree preservation, landscape architecture, and support the broader equity, environmental, and sustainability goals of the City.
The Planning Commission held a work session on September 26, 2024, to provide feedback on several key policies for inclusion in the Ordinance. Based on City Council and Planning Commission feedback, staff updated the draft Ordinance (Attachment II) to address expansion of preservation requirements for native trees on private property; established a process for designation and removal of heritage trees; established a calculation for the mitigation of the loss of tree canopy; and established an in-lieu fee option that could be available for off-site mitigation. Other updates to the Tree Preservation Ordinance are minor in nature and intended to clarify the tree preservation and removal process. All policy updates are summarized in the Ordinance Update Summary (Attachment III).
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment I TPO Staff Report
Attachment II Draft Tree Preservation Ordinance
Attachment III Ordinance Update Summary