Springfield Panel Forwards Tree Ordinance To Law Department

City Council Sustainability and Environmental Subcommittee · Meeting of August 4, 2026

Springfield's Sustainability and Environmental Subcommittee forwarded a draft tree-cutting ordinance to the Law Department after a field test put real dollar figures on the policy. City Forester Alex Sherman surveyed a vacant Parkerview Street lot and found a mitigation fee of $50 per diameter-inch would cost $30,450 to clear 39 trees there, or roughly $179,000 per acre for similarly mature forest. SCANS member Juan Latorre said the figure was "kind of sticker shock" but noted the draft caps clear-cutting at 75 percent of a lot, letting developers cut costs by preserving part of a parcel.

City Council Attorney Ken Shay called the summary document "extremely thorough and well thought out" but said a final legal review is still needed. Councilor Davila asked for a draft ordinance within about three weeks before the measure advances to the full council chamber.

In the full story:

• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report — 1,877 words

Source: the City Council Sustainability and Environmental Subcommittee meeting of August 4, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.