Parkside Canopy Emergency Amendment Act of 2025

Plain English Breakdown

The official text states the act expires in no more than 90 days but does not specify a calendar end date, only that it is subject to emergency act provisions.

Parkside Canopy Emergency Amendment Act of 2025

This emergency law temporarily exempts specific Heritage Trees in the Parkside development project from standard removal rules if a fee is paid.

What This Bill Does

• Amends the Urban Forest Preservation Amendment Act of 2002 on an emergency basis.
• Exempts Heritage Trees located in Lots 865, 866, 867, 868, and 869 in Square 5056 from standard removal requirements.
• Requires a fee to be paid for each removed tree at the rate used for special trees under Section 104.

Who It Names or Affects

• Property owners or contractors removing Heritage Trees from Lots 865, 866, 867, 868, and 869 in Square 5056.
• Developers working on the Parkside mixed-use economic development project where a planned unit development was approved before July 1, 2016.

Terms To Know

Heritage Tree

A protected tree that is normally subject to specific removal requirements under the Urban Forest Preservation Act of 2002.

Planned Unit Development

An approved construction plan by the Zoning Commission required for this exemption to apply if approved before July 1, 2016.

Limits and Unknowns

• The law remains in effect for no longer than 90 days after approval.
• The exemption applies only if the Zoning Commission approved a planned unit development prior to July 1, 2016.
• The specific dollar amount of the fee is not listed; it depends on the rate applicable for special trees.

Official Summary Text

Parkside Canopy Emergency Amendment Act of 2025

Current Bill Text

ENROLLED ORIGINAL
AN ACT.

.C.ACT 26-123
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
AUGUST 14,2025
‘Toamend,onanemergencybasis,theUrbanForestPreservationAmendmentActof2002toexemptHeritageTreeslocatedinLots865,866,867,868,and869inSquare5056oftheParksidemixed-useeconomicdevelopmentprojectfromHeritageTreeremoval
requirements.
BEITENACTEDBYTHECOUNCILOFTHEDISTRICTOFCOLUMBIA,Thatthisactmaybecitedasthe“ParksideCanopyEmergencyAmendmentActof2025”.
Sec.2.Section104aoftheUrbanForestPreservationActof2002,effectiveJuly1,2016
(D.C.Law21-133;D.C,OfficialCode§8-651.04a),isamendedbyaddinganewsubsection(e)toreadasfollows:
“(e)ThissectionshallnotapplytoaHeritageTreelocatedinLots865,866,867,868,and869inSquare5056forwhichtheZoningCommissionhasapprovedaplannedunitdevelopmentpriortoJuly1,2016;provided,thatafeecalculatedattherateapplicablefor
specialtreespursuanttosection104shallbepaidforeachHeritageTreeremovedfromtheaforesaidlots.”.
Sec.3.Fiscalimpactstatement.
TheCounciladoptsthefiscalimpactstatementoftheBudgetDirectorasthefiscalimpactstatementrequiredbysection4aoftheGeneralLegislativeProceduresActof1975,approvedOctober16,2006(120Stat.2038;D.C.OfficialCode§1-301.47a).
Sec.4.Effectivedate,‘ThisactshalltakeeffectfollowingapprovalbytheMayor(orintheeventofvetobytheMayor,actionbytheCounciltooverridetheveto),andshallremainineffectfornolongerthan90days,asprovidedforemergencyactsoftheCounciloftheDistrictofColumbiainsection

ENROLLED ORIGINAL
412(a)of theDistrictof Columbia Home Rule Act,approvedDecember 24, 1973 (87 Stat.788;
D.C. OfficialCode§ 1-204.12(a)).
Lille"
rman
Councilof the Districtof Columbia

DistriclofColumbia.APPROVED
AUGUST 1, 2025
ry

DocketNo,826-0312
[]ITEMONCONSENTCALENDAR:
[XIACTION
[X]VOTEDATE
[x1VOIcEVOTE
RECORDEDVOTEONREQUEST
‘ABSENT
[]ROLLCALLVOTE~Result

COUNCILOF THE DISTRICTOF COLUMBIA
WASHINGTON,DG,20004
FinalReading
July14,2025,
Approved

[Gbuneiimember[Aye[Nay]
Henderson| X
LewisGeorge| x
Medufhe x
xNadeau
Parker