Urban Forestry Framework Plan

The City of Grants Pass has numerous existing tree programs and is a Tree City USA. While the city's existing tree programs are positive, it is not clear whether the individual programs were working collectively to most effectively provide the benefits of urban trees. The City conducted an analysis to contribute to the development of an Urban Forestry Plan to increase the benefits of:

• Air and water pollution reduction
• Economic benefits
• Energy and water conservation
• Erosion prevention and control
• Habitat
• Mitigation of urban heat sink
• Noise suppression
• Stormwater management and retention
• Traffic calming

Urban Forestry Steering Committee

To ensure diverse community interests were represented in the evaluation of the Urban Forestry Plan, an Urban Forestry Steering Committee was formed. The committee provided input, feedback, and recommendations on the work products developed during the planning process. The input was used to develop and refine work products which were submitted to the Planning Commission and City Council for adoption.

Urban Forestry Plan Goals, Policies & Objectives

On June 25, 2008, the committee presented its recommended Urban Forestry Plan Goals, Policies, and Objectives (PDF) to the Urban Area Planning Commission for a public hearing.

The Planning Commission suggested revisions to the document and requested that it be taken back to the Urban Forestry Steering Committee for additional consideration.

Plan Adoption

On September 8, 2008, the Urban Forestry Committee adopted a revised Goals, Policies, and Objectives (PDF) document dated August 11, 2008.

On October 8, 2008, the Urban Area Planning Commission recommended the adoption of the Urban Forestry Framework Plan to the City Council.

The Plan was adopted as an element of the Comprehensive Plan by City Council at their November 19, 2008 meeting by Ordinance 5470.

Urban Forestry Framework - Adopted November 19, 2008

• Chapter 1 (PDF). Introduction
• Chapter 2 (PDF). Goals, Policies, and Objectives (Revised August 11, 2008) -Annotated
• Chapter 3 (PDF). Technical Memorandum 1: Benefits and Functions
  • Appendix A (PDF): Benefits of Trees in Urban Areas
  • Appendix B (PDF): the University of Washington Fact Sheets
• Chapter 4 (PDF). Technical Memorandum 2: Existing Conditions
  • Appendix A (PDF): Categories and Assignments
  • Appendix B (PDF): Photo Inventory
• Chapter 5 (PDF). Technical Memorandum 3: Existing Plans, Policies, Regulations, Programs and Resources City Ordinances Cover Memo, July 21, 2006 (PDF)
  • Excerpts from Article 13 (PDF)
  • Excerpts from Article 17 (PDF)
  • Excerpts from Article 18 (PDF)
  • Excerpts from Article 19 (PDF)
  • Excerpts from Article 23 (PDF)
  • Excerpts from Article 24 (PDF)
  • Excerpts from Article 30 (PDF)
  • Municipal Code 6.36 - Encroachment Ordinance (PDF)
  • Municipal Code 6.42 - Street Tree Ordinance (PDF)
• Chapter 6 (PDF). Technical Memorandum 4: Issues Identification
• Chapter 7 (PDF). Technical Memorandum 5: Best Practices and Plans from Other Communities
  • Urban Watershed Forestry Manual Part 1 (PDF) - Methods for Increasing Forest Cover in a Watershed
  • Urban Watershed Forestry Manual Part 2 (PDF) - Conserving and Planting Trees at Development Sites
  • Urban Watershed Forestry Manual Part 3 (PDF) - Urban Tree Planting Guide
• Chapter 8 (PDF). Goals, Policies, and Objectives Preliminary Discussion Memo (Refinement of Issues Memo)