A recent report argues that preserving existing trees should be a priority for Virginia neighborhoods and recommends that the state legislature grant local governments more authority to retain them in new housing developments.
The report by environmental nonprofits Southside ReLeaf and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation presents several recommendations for Virginia General Assembly members, including a proposal to revive a bill that would allow cities to require land developers to preserve trees.
“Every Virginian should live in a home that is affordable, safe, and surrounded by healthy green spaces that protect against heat, flooding, and pollution,” according to the report.
Cities, towns and counties in Northern Virginia already have the power to require developers to keep or at least replace existing trees, but that’s not true elsewhere. Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin vetoed a 2024 bill that would have extended that authority statewide. A spokesperson for Democratic Delegate Betsy Carr, who introduced the bill, told Homes.com that a new version of the measure may be filed in the General Assembly session that starts next month.
The ideas in the report came out of a summit the two nonprofits organized in October in Virginia Beach, titled “Growing Together: From Roots to Roofs.” The event drew legislators, environmental leaders, and housing advocates to discuss how to achieve residential development while protecting the environment.
Another suggestion in the report is to allow governments in the Richmond region to impose impact fees on developers, with the revenue directed toward green infrastructure such as trees or stormwater runoff control. Money from this type of fee is typically used to offset the impact a development project has on local government services.
In addition to tree preservation and impact fees, the report also recommends redeveloping underused or vacant properties for housing rather than clearing forests for new construction.
Southside ReLeaf, which focuses on environmental concerns on the south side of Richmond, could not be immediately reached for comment.
Coalition calls for zoning changes
The group is one of 17 local and statewide organizations that make up the recently formed coalition, Homes for All Our Neighbors. The coalition has called on the city government to approve a robust reform of its zoning code to allow more housing to be built in existing neighborhoods. Doing so would not only provide more housing opportunities, according to the coalition’s website, but also environmental ones.
“Building more housing near transit, jobs, and services can create more walkable areas, resulting in fewer car trips and a greener, healthier city,” according to the coalition.