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PR26-0274 • 2025

Parkside Canopy Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2025

Parkside Canopy Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2025

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Felder
Last action
2025-07-25
Official status
Approved
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on how the resolution affects residents and businesses in Ward 7, beyond mentioning that it supports ongoing economic development initiatives.

Parkside Canopy Emergency Declaration Resolution

This resolution declares an emergency to exempt certain Heritage Trees in the Parkside mixed-use development project from removal requirements under the Urban Forest Preservation Act.

What This Bill Does

  • Declares that there is an emergency situation regarding the need to amend the Urban Forest Preservation Act of 2002 for specific trees in the Parkside area.
  • Exempts Heritage Trees located in Lots 865, 866, 867, 868, and 869 from removal requirements under the Act.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Heritage Trees located in Lots 865, 866, 867, 868, and 869.
  • The Parkside mixed-use development project.

Terms To Know

Heritage Trees
Trees that are protected under the Urban Forest Preservation Act due to their historical or ecological significance.
Urban Forest Preservation Act
A law designed to protect and preserve trees in urban areas, including requirements for permits before removing certain large trees.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The resolution only applies to specific Heritage Trees within the Parkside development project.
  • It does not change other parts of the Urban Forest Preservation Act that apply elsewhere in Washington D.C.

Bill History

  1. 2025-07-25 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Resolution R26-0174, Effective from Jul 14, 2025 Published in DC Register Vol 72 and Page 008183

  2. 2025-07-14 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Retained by the Council

  3. 2025-07-14 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Legislative Meeting

  4. 2025-07-14 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Approved with Resolution Number R26-0174

  5. 2025-07-09 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    PR26-0274 Introduced by Councilmember Felder at Office of the Secretary

Official Summary Text

Parkside Canopy Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2025

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
ENROLLED ORIGINAL

1

A RESOLUTION

26-174

IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

July 14, 2025

To declare the existence of an emergency with respect to the need to amend the Urban Forest
Preservation Amendment Act of 2002 to exempt Heritage Trees located in Lots 865, 866,
867, 868, and 869 in Square 5056 of the Parkside mixed-use economic development
project from Heritage Tree removal requirements.

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this
resolution may be cited as the “Parkside Canopy Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2025”.

Sec. 2. (a). The Urban Forest Preservation Act of 2002, effective June 12, 2003 (D.C. law
14-309; D.C. Official Code § 8-651.01 et seq.) (“Act”), was enacted to establish an urban forest
preservation program, to require a Special Tree removal permit and community notification prior
to the removal of a replacement tree with a circumference of 55 inches or more, to establish a
Tree Fund to be used to plant trees, and to revise penalties for injuring trees on public space and
private property.
(b) The Act has subsequently been amended by the Tree Canopy Protection Amendment
Act of 2016, effective July 1, 2016 (D.C. Law 21-133; 63 DCR 7134), to increase the permit fees
for Special Tree removal, to increase the fines for unlawful removal of a Special Tree, to protect
trees with a circumference of 100 inches or more, to expand the permissible uses of the Tree
Fund, and to establish the Urban Forestry Advisory Council.
(c) Exempting the removal of the Heritage Trees in Lots 865, 866, 867, 868, and 869 of
Square 5056 from permit requirements established by the Act is a critical component of the
ongoing transit-oriented economic development initiatives within the Parkside community in
Ward 7. This project will introduce approximately 209 units of much-needed affordable housing
and ground floor retail to include a grocery store and was approved through a planned unit
development prior to the enactment of the Tree Canopy Protection Amendment Act of 2016. The
Parkside development has already created a new tree-lined buffer and community park that
includes green space and other community amenities that would offset the loss of these Heritage
Trees.
(d) Emergency legislation is needed to support the ongoing economic development
initiatives including the construction of new affordable housing units and retail in the Parkside
community in Ward 7.
ENROLLED ORIGINAL

2

Sec. 3. The Council of the District of Columbia determines that the circumstances in
section 2 constitute emergency circumstances making it necessary that the Parkside Canopy
Emergency Amendment Act of 2025 be adopted after a single reading.

Sec. 4. This resolution shall take effect immediately.