As part of the comprehensive plan update, the city's new zoning framework deliberately focuses medium-scale residential density—allowing buildings up to 75 feet tall—around existing parks and natural areas to maximize equitable access to green spaces. The plan's preferred alternative was directly shaped by mapping community assets like the existing tree canopy and parks. Additionally, officials are working with the urban forester to implement vegetative maintenance bonds that ensure new landscaping and tree plantings successfully survive private development projects.
Forests_green_space
City Council Workshops · Apr 27, 2026 · 39:26–39:53 · Watch on CVTV ↗
Keywords: urban forest open space tree canopy parks
What was said
38:19 line that is frequent. And probably is not going to be frequent for a very long time. But in that medium density, the building height is allowed up to 75 feet. And so their concern was a 75 foot building around a park but nowhere near transit really aligning with what we're wanting to see. And so I wanted to just kind of get your feedback on that. Yeah. Thank you. So when we worked on getting to a preferred alternative, so we had a range of options that we analyzed, and we worked with council to develop a framework for getting
39:15 to a preferred alternative. So how would we combine and refine the options right into a preferred map. And one of the core principles of that framework that we heard over and over and over again from people is that parks and schools are essential places for people. They are essential things people need to be able to access on a daily basis to thrive, basically. And so as we went through that process, the direction from this council was to apply the medium scale neighborhood around all parks and schools, regardless of transit access, to give people that access. So anyway, that's what shows up in the map. So it's not just one park. It's every park. And it's every school. And in recognition that in some cases, and particularly if there isn't good transit, allowing people to live close by those things
40:14 that are essential to them thriving is really something that we heard very strongly from the community and that this council supported as part of your framework and ultimately endorsed your resolution as part of the final map. I will also say that, you know, the 75 feet in the medium scale or whether it's next to a park or not is something we've got a lot of feedback on. And it really is I think some of you have been like to National League of Cities and, you know, have brought back even to me information on how do we make how do we get more housing built. And one of the biggest things is to allow by right development
Evidence (1 match)
direct keyword 39:26–39:53 urban forest, open space, tree canopy, parks
to develop a framework for getting to a preferred alternative. So how would we combine and refine the options right into a preferred map. And one of the core principles of that framework that we heard over and over and over again from people is that parks and schools are essential places for people. They are essential things people need to be able to access on a daily basis to thrive, basically. And so as we went through that process, the direction from this council was to apply the medium scale