An overhaul of the City of Atlanta’s proposed tree protection ordinance contains a provision that has little to do with trees.
Tucked in the 62-page legislation that the City Council is currently debating is an incentive for developers of multifamily housing who set aside a percentage of their developments for affordable housing.
Under the proposal, developers of multifamily projects can apply for a 20% reduction in the number of trees they must replant or amount they must pay into the city’s tree fund if they set aside at least 15% of their units for households earning 80 percent or less of the area’s median income. If 10% of the units are for families earning 60% of median income, a developer would be eligible for a similar break.
The council’s Community Development and Human Services Committee held a virtual five-hour work session on Wednesday. Committee Chairman Matt Westmoreland said that he wanted a revision to come up for vote before the full council during its May 3 meeting.
Much of the meeting was filled by comments from the public.
Many opposed the revision. They argued that it didn’t go far enough to protect the city’s vanishing tree canopy.
About the Author
Keep Reading
The Latest
Featured
