Avondale Estates’ new green space committee has produced a first draft of a residential tree ordinance, recently posted on the city’s website at avondaleestates.org.
“Basically, this ordinance [strives] for the protection and replacement of the tree canopy,” said committee Chair Brad Jones. “The main components are that every residential lot should have 40 percent coverage, and you can take down a maximum three trees a year.”
Jones added he hopes the ordinance stays “ahead of the curve” of any future clear-cutting by developers. Based on a recent study of aerial photographs, the city hasn’t lost any tree canopy in recent years. In 2009 Avondale had 53.4 coverage, which had increased to 54 percent in 2015.
According to this same study, Decatur had 45.1 percent coverage in 2010 and Atlanta 47.9 percent the same year.
Avondale’s current tree ordinance covers all zoning districts excepting residential. Last year the city posted a rough draft of a residential tree ordinance, which mostly anthologized ordinances from other cities and proved unpopular with local residents.
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