We have made several complaints to the Redding Planning Department regarding what we see as violations of the Redding Tree Ordinance, but the response from the City has not always been complete.
You may have seen the story on KRCR-TV regarding removal of trees on Park Marina Drive between the two ponds. In the story, landowner Chris Kutras told KRCR he had been working with the City on the tree removal. A call to the City revealed that no tree removal permit was issued by the City. A Public Records request, and a talk with a Redding Fire Department (RFD) inspector revealed that RFD did not have anything to do with the tree removal. A complaint to California Fish and Wildlife did not bring a response of any kind from that agency.
Many of the trees on the flat area were tree of heaven (Ailanthus), under six-inch wide, and legal to cut without a permit. However, about 15 or more important oak trees over six inches in diameter and far from any power lines were cut at the south end of the large pond. Driving east on Highway 44, you will see a few sparsely spaced trees at the at the southern end of the large pond that will provide little habitat for wildlife. As yet we have heard nothing from Planning but they are not allowed to go on private property even if not posted without permission.
Tidmore Lane: SEA made a complaint on some tree removal on land near the McConnell Foundation in May 2000. Many months later the Redding Planning Department finally did get the owners to take out a tree removal permit months after the fact. Apparently, the owners were not given any fine for the tree removal or has relayed that fact to SEA. Unfortunately getting projects through the planning process seems to be much more important than fines for violations of the tree ordinance. Fortunately, Kim Niemer is the new Planning Manager and things should improve in the future.
Now we still have questions on several other areas. The clearcutting you see on Oasis Road is legal and will unfortunately continue, since much of this area has been already approved for clearcutting without
mitigation requirements years ago. Hopefully a new tree ordinance can reduce this type of tree removal
significantly. Redding developments are cutting down trees and burning them faster than we can plant acorns! If Redding had its own Urban Forester as Chico and Sacramento do, and a new tree ordinance, we could start increasing Redding’s tree canopy.