Mayoral Candidate - CM John Cooper - Speaks for the Trees!

CM

John Cooper

Mayoral Candidate

Nashville Tree Conservation Corps asked candidates running for Nashville’s 2019 election how they would solve some of our city’s most challenging tree canopy issues. See how they responded in the question and answer below!

QUESTION #1

The Fort Negley clear-cutting and the NFL cherry-tree incidents illustrated something obvious: When it comes to the urban canopy, there is a breakdown of communication between the segments of Metro Government responsible for trees. The problem is that trees fall under the jurisdiction of many different departments (codes, stormwater, electrical, parks). What internal operational changes need to be made to better protect the existing canopy?

To better protect our existing trees, we need to put more resources toward that effort. Our Urban Forester, whose position is not set up to effectively perform the role, one person in Public Works, one person in General Services, the one crew in the Parks Department, and two Metro Codes employees responsible for tree codes enforcement are not enough. It makes sense for all of these departments to have roles in protecting our trees, but there is currently no central authority directing a coordinated effort. We should set up the position of the Urban Forester to have the authority to develop real, long-term planning for our canopy. We have done a fine job planting trees, but taking action to protect our existing trees is going to take a concerted, centralized effort.

QUESTION #2

Do you support the city’s first tree bill in over a decade (BL2018-1416) in its current form? If not, what changes do you want to see? Or should it be stronger and broader in scope? BL1416 impacts only commercial and multi- family land use types. Do you support enacting tree laws for single-family residential?

I do support this bill, and yes, I support tree tree requirements and incentives for single-family residential. We can do more in the future, but this bill as substituted currently is a good start.

QUESTION #3

Atlanta, Charlotte and Austin all have laws protecting a class of trees they consider to be “heritage trees; property owners must get approval for cutting them down and pay into a tree bank to offset the loss of a large trees in their communities. We feel this sets a tone that makes people more aware and respectful of the urban tree canopy. Do you approve of such legislation?

Yes.

QUESTION #4

TREES ATLANTA is considered by many to be the model for a public/private cooperative that works to protect urban tree canopy. TREES ATLANTA employees even help the city as on-site inspectors who follow up to make sure developers have complied with tree ordinances. What do you think of this model, or what would you do to strengthen the implementation and enforcement of Nashville’s tree code?

The current administration has not prioritized protecting our urban tree canopy. As a result, advocacy groups like the Nashville Tree Foundation and Nashville Tree Conservation Corps have had to come together at the invitation of community members to work with each other to advocate for policy, and done their own work independently in the community. The Mayor should bring these groups and other tireless advocates in this space together to work in partnership with the support of the Mayor’s office to better protect our trees. As with many other local matters, this is an issue that will be solved by long-term planning and leadership from Metro government. Most of all, though, we need more Codes staff members to enforce our existing requirements.

QUESTION #5

How could we entice private property owners not to cut down mature trees? How can we encourage developers/builders to keep mature trees in the designing of the home and lot?

While we need to respect property owners’ rights, there are ways to encourage developers not to cut down trees. We need to encourage builders to retain mature trees through a combination of permitting, incentives and monetary costs. Providing incentives like perhaps not requiring as much stormwater infrastructure (detention) on lots that do not cut down trees is a good idea, but as the stormwater tree retention incentive is currently structured, it has not yet proven to be an effective tool. We have to make the incentives more meaningful to the developers for them to be utilized. Furthermore, we need to implement requirements that developers show in their building plans that their heavy materials and vehicles will not rest on root systems and kill healthy, mature trees. This behooves both the home buyer and the developer.  

QUESTION #6

Metro Nashville has just 3 employees to oversee all of Davidson County trees, while other peer cities with less tree canopy coverage have 15 to 20 employees on staff for trees. As a result, the Nashville Tree Conservation Corps has cataloged countless incidents where developers eluded complying with tree codes, the city has hundreds of hazardous trees that need to be replaced, and staff have trouble keeping up with just their everyday responsibilities. Do you support spending the money to bring us up to a par with our peer cities? If not, how will you fix this issue?

Yes, I support allocating more staff toward protecting our existing canopy. If we do not have enough staff to enforce our codes, builders are going to ignore them. We have to be able to enforce our codes, especially when it comes to keeping the natural environment as intact as possible, and the codes department has acknowledged that they need another staff member specifically for tree codes. Also, again, I believe effective policy on this issue will begin with creating a central authority in an empowered Urban Forester position. Protecting our trees is an integral part of preserving what makes Nashville neighborhoods special.

QUESTION #7

(BONUS OPTIONAL QUESTION: Mayoral Candidates Only) Is the current zoning board well balanced in terms of competing interests (i.e. environmental, developer, new revenue interests, etc.). And, if not, what would you look for in new appointees?

I believe the Zoning Board could use more representatives that advocate on behalf of the homeowners and neighborhoods. In new appointees, I will look for citizens that have a vested interest in preserving the Nashville we know and love, and making sure we do not lose our city’s character for the sake of development.