Agenda Date: 11/10/2026
Subject:
Title
Tree Canopy Goals, Policies and Regulations
Body
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From: |
James L. Becklenberg, City Manager |
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Prepared by: |
Brent Soderlin, Director of Public Works & Utilities |
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Matt Knight, Director of Community Development |
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Mary Danser, City Forrester |
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Andrea Vaughn, Senior Planner |
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Presentations: |
Mary Danser, City Forrester |
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Andrea Vaughn, Senior Planner |
PURPOSE:
Tree canopy, specifically as it relates to the inequitable distribution of tree canopy and creating a more resilient and healthy canopy, is an identified strategic priority in Horizon 2027 and the Environmental Stewardship Board’s 2024 Action Plan where we share a common goal to create a vibrant, sustainable, and resilient community. Staff are seeking how the city best can support our development, recreation, and residential partners to meet this common goal to reserve and grow tree canopy and incentivize sustainable development.
This discussion will help shape the Tree Policy and Regulations (TPR) and the Unified Land Use Code (ULUC) text amendments. These amendments are intended to further the goals of the Urban Forestry Management Plan and support the implementation of the TPR[AV1.1]. The TPR document will consolidate all enforceable tree-related policies and regulations into a centralized document, rather than maintaining tree code language across multiple sections of City Code. The TPR will establish consistent, enforceable standards for tree preservation, removal, replacement, and protection throughout the City, improving clarity for residents, contractors, developers, and staff while supporting coordinated development review and the long-term protection and growth of Littleton’s tree canopy.
Staff will refine options based on Council feedback before returning with formal recommendations.
LONG-TERM OUTCOME(S) SERVED:
Sustainable Community with Natural Beauty; High-Quality Governance
DISCUSSION:
Staff are preparing for the City’s upcoming code updates and Tree Policy and Regulations document (TPR), while also responding to stakeholder concerns and feedback. In the 2026 Residential Survey, Littleton residents stated that climate resiliency (71%), environmental sustainability (73%) and appearance of the City (74%) where reasons they choose to live in Littleton.
The proposed code update under consideration would increase minimum mature canopy requirements by 10 percentage points across zoning districts. [MD2.1]The intent is to focus on mature canopy coverage, recognizing that canopy goals are advanced not only by how much is planted, but also by how much existing canopy is preserved. The preliminary proposed changes include:
|
Zoning District |
Current Requirement |
Proposed Requirement |
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MFR |
20% |
30% |
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NC |
15% |
25% |
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CM |
15% |
25% |
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BC |
10% |
20% |
Increasing canopy requirements for new development is one potential building block in a broader community-wide strategy. However, staff recognizes that canopy goals cannot be achieved through regulation alone. Stakeholder feedback has emphasized the need to balance preservation, new planting, development feasibility, affordability, and long-term maintenance responsibilities. To support this discussion, staff has identified several concepts for Council consideration.
Potential options include:
• Increasing minimum canopy requirements in applicable zoning districts;
• Providing flexibility or administrative adjustments for qualifying affordable housing developments;
• Offering fee reductions or waivers for developments that exceed minimum canopy requirements;
• Creating preservation credits for retaining mature trees during development; and
• Providing City-funded trees for voluntary canopy above minimum requirements.
Each of these concepts includes potential benefits and implementation considerations. Increased canopy requirements would align the ULUC with adopted City priorities and goals, but may also affect site design. Incentives such as fee reductions, preservation credits, or City provided tree stock could encourage voluntary canopy preservation and growth, but would require further evaluation related to funding, staffing, administrative workload, legal authority, code structure, and long-term maintenance responsibilities.
After receiving Council feedback, staff will further evaluate the feasibility, administrative burden, financial impacts, and staffing resources required to implement any preferred incentive approaches. The city’s consultant will continue work on the draft TPR, proposed code updates, and the future public comment process.
BACKGROUND:
Trees provide significant and measurable community benefits related to health, safety, infrastructure, sustainability, and economic resilience. The benefits of Littleton’s existing mature trees are especially important because mature canopy provides environmental and community value that new plantings cannot immediately replace.
Urban tree canopy contributes to overall wellbeing and public health. Research shows that residents living in greener neighborhoods may experience lower healthcare costs and that views of trees and shrubs have been associated with positive educational and cognitive outcomes. Tree canopy also supports public safety. Studies have linked tree-lined streets with lower vehicle speeds and reduced crash rates and have associated greater tree canopy coverage with lower rates of violent and property crime.
In addition to supporting human health, trees are also a vital component of sustainable development and can provide direct resource savings. Strategically placed trees can reduce energy demand by shading buildings and lowering cooling needs. Research indicates that shade trees near west and south building exposures can reduce summertime cooling electricity use. Mature tree shade can also reduce residential irrigation demand by limiting landscape[AV5.1] water needs during the growing season. These benefits demonstrate that tree canopy is not only an environmental amenity, but also a practical component of resilient infrastructure and sustainable community design.[MD6.1][AV6.2][AV7.1]
Littleton’s long-term canopy goals require a community wide approach. No single group can carry the responsibility alone. City owned land represents only a small portion of total land area in Littleton, and therefore City property alone cannot achieve long-term community canopy goals. Preservation and new planting must work together across public, private, residential, recreational, and development lands.
The city and its partners are already investing in canopy preservation and growth. Littleton manages approximately 60 acres, or about 0.7% of total land, and approximately 4,420 trees. In 2026, the city planted 70 trees and, as of October 2026, allocated approximately 800 labor hours to tree preservation tasks such as watering, fertilizing, and chemical protection. The city also supports residential tree planting and care through programs such as the 2026 Tree Sale, which distributed 205 discounted trees to residents, and a subsidy program with 93 approved applications as of October 2026.
South Suburban Parks and Recreation is also a significant canopy partner, managing approximately 1,724 acres, or about 20% of total land, and approximately 14,770 trees. In 2026, South Suburban planted 74 trees and, as of October 2026, chemically treated 324 mature trees for preservation.
Because canopy responsibility is shared across the community, the City’s approach must include a mix of preservation, planting, regulation, education, and incentives. The proposed Tree Policy and Regulations document and related Code updates provide an opportunity to align City standards, stakeholder feedback, and implementation tools with the community’s long-term sustainability and natural beauty goals. Staff is seeking Council input before advancing formal recommendations so that future policy options can be evaluated for feasibility, effectiveness, equity, and alignment with Littleton’s broader strategic priorities.
Prior Actions or Discussions
N/A
FISCAL IMPACTS:
N/A
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that Council direct staff to continue developing the Tree Policies and Regulations (TPR) document and related code updates using a balanced, equitable approach to canopy growth. Additional strategies include a proposed $250-per-inch in-lieu fee to encourage tree preservation, mature tree preservation credits, flexibility for affordable housing and constrained redevelopment sites, and incentives for voluntary canopy growth. Based [AV9.1]on feedback, the original proposal to increase canopy requirements by 10% in some zoning districts and 5% in others; staff is seeking Council direction, on the question if canopy coverage requirements should be revised to a consistent 10% increase across all applicable zoning districts. Staff will return with formal recommendations following further evaluation of feasibility, fiscal impacts, staffing needs, legal authority, and stakeholder input.
ALTERNATIVES:
N/A