The Town of Coupeville's urban forest is a thriving and sustainable mix of tree species and ages that creates a contiguous and healthy ecosystem that is valued and cared for by the Town and all of its citizens as an essential environmental, economic, and community asset. The purposes of this chapter are to:

A.

Promote the public health, safety, and general welfare;

B.

Preserve and enhance the Town's physical and aesthetic character by preventing the indiscriminate removal or destruction of trees and ground cover;

C.

Promote building and site development practices that are consistent with the Town's natural topographic and vegetational features;

D.

Minimize the need for additional storm drainage and runoff quality remediation facilities;

E.

Promote a thriving and sustainable mix of tree species and ages that creates a contiguous and healthy ecosystem; and

F.

Protect natural habitat and help mitigate impacts associated with climate change.

Pursuant to RCW 76.09.240, the Town adopted regulations setting standards for those Class IV forest practices resulting in development and conversion of the land to a nonforest land use, which regulations are to be administered and enforced by the Town.

(Ord. No. 688, § 2(Exh. B), 1-11-2011; Ord. No. 792, § 1(Exh. A), 3-12-2024)