Tom Cash Speaks for the Trees…

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?

Transparency in government is key, along with enough employees to oversee actions like the Fort Negley and NFL incidents. A public-private partnership like Trees Atlanta can help ensure policies and practices are followed to protect our tree canopy.

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 the bill. I’d like to see protections for residential as well, and a public conversation to find consensus is an integral part.

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?

I support protecting heritage trees as well as having a tree fund to help expand our tree canopy when heritage trees can not be saved. Our tree canopy is one of our great assets in Nashville and must be valued in public policy.

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?

A public-private partnership like TREES ATLANTA is an excellent idea. As President of Hillsboro West End Neighbors for much of the last 10 years, I’ve worked to continue our annual Tree Day in fall to make trees available to our neighbors at cost; we’ve also added many trees to our canopy by planting donated trees in area parks and school grounds. With the help of CM Burkley Allen, we’ve been attentive to protecting trees in development proposals, striking deals on rezonjngs and SPs that maintain and expand trees in the plans.

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?

When property owners and developers seek exceptions to their base zoning, tree protection and expansion should regularly be a part. New development should include tree cover in plans.

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?

I have campaigned on city services keeping pace with growth; making sure we have enough employees for proper city planning, including maintaining and expanding our tree canopy is an important part of that.

BONUS QUESTION FOR COUNCIL CANDIDATES

QUESTION #7

How will you work to bridge the divisions we often experience when talking about advancing tree legislation in Nashville between the community-builder dynamic? How can we advance Nashville’s livability standards while avoiding the risk of State preemption?  

A key in bridging the community-builder divisions comes by respecting all parties involved and reaching consensus. We can’t let the fear of state preemption keep us from setting the community standards desired by Nashville. If the state “picks on” larger cities like Nashville, we need to legally challenge efforts to preempt.