Edmonds Planning Board Meeting - February 2, 2026: Tree Code Update Discussion

Note: The agenda listed the meeting as January 28, 2026, however the instruction specifies the date as February 2, 2026; this summary uses the provided date.

The Edmonds Planning Board met on February 2, 2026, at 7:00 PM in a hybrid format. The meeting focused on the ongoing 2026 Tree Code Update, including establishing a citywide tree canopy cover goal. The board also approved previous meeting minutes, received an administrative report from Parks, Recreation & Human Services, and heard public comments.

Consent Calendar

• Unanimous approval of the December 10, 2025 meeting minutes.
• Unanimous approval of the January 14, 2026 meeting minutes.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Regina Armstrong (Edmonds Climate Advisory Board) expressed support for incorporating climate change considerations into the tree code, emphasized the importance of implementation over goal-setting, and urged the board to start with restrictive rules to avoid weakening during negotiations. She also questioned the use of 2021 data in the consultant's report and pointed to the Climate Action Plan as an example of lacking implementation progress.
• A second speaker (unidentified resident) described a recent permit case where hazard tree provisions in the Critical Areas Ordinance (CAO) were allegedly abused, allowing removal of six trees without a maintenance bond. The speaker argued that starting with the least restrictive code can lead to unintended tree loss and urged the board to begin with the most restrictive levels.

Discussion Items

• Parks, Recreation & Human Services Department 2026 and Q4 Reports: The board reviewed the administrative report; no presentation was made.
• 2026 Tree Code Update, Project #AMD2025-0006 – Deb Powers, staff planner, presented the project scope, timeline, and public engagement strategy. Key points included:
  • The project aims to establish a citywide tree canopy cover goal, define landmark trees, slow tree loss on private property, and improve code clarity.
  • The current code's purpose and intent language ("no net loss of tree canopy coverage") is not a measurable metric and is difficult to enforce. The board discussed replacing it with a specific canopy cover percentage.
  • Existing canopy cover data: 32.4% based on 2021 imagery (PlanIT Geo assessment). Historical data showed a slight gain from 2005 (32.3%) to 2020 (34.6%), but a recent loss of 106 acres between 2020 and 2024.
  • The board debated whether to set a conservative, moderate, or aspirational goal. Several members expressed support for a moderate increase (2-5% above current) and emphasized achievability and public perception. Others preferred a more aspirational target (5% or more). No final number was adopted; the board agreed to continue the discussion at the next meeting.
  • A planning board liaison (John) was appointed to the stakeholder focus group.
• Extended Agenda: Brad provided an updated schedule for upcoming meetings, including topics on landmark trees, middle housing, and a potential public hearing on the draft tree code in June 2026. The board discussed the need for a public hearing and agreed to hold one closer to the recommendation date.

Key Outcomes

• Minutes approved unanimously.
• No decision on canopy cover goal; board directed staff to proceed with a moderate/achievable approach (2-5% increase) as a working target, but final number to be determined at a future meeting.
• John appointed as planning board liaison to the tree code stakeholder focus group.
• Meeting extended by 15 minutes to cover the extended agenda.
• Next meeting scheduled for February 25, 2026, focusing on landmark trees and middle housing.