A lack of commercial properties in Arlington’s development pipeline is having a negative impact on the community’s tree canopy.
The Arlington County government’s Tree Canopy Fund last spring had “essentially run out of money” and was being kept alive by a one-time, $250,000 appropriation from County Board members.
The funding goes to EcoAction Arlington, and typically comes from contributions by developers seeking zoning changes for new commercial projects.
But there have been few site plans for commercial development moving through the county’s regulatory process over the past year, “and there are no site plans on the horizon for six to 12 months,” said Elenor Hodges, executive director of EcoAction Arlington.
She was speaking Jan. 21 to the Arlington Park and Recreation Commission, seeking commission support for additional government tree-canopy funding in the upcoming budget cycle.
EcoAction Arlington administers the program on behalf of the county government.
“We are at this crux where we do not have the ability to continue … unless we get an influx of funds,” Hodges said.
“Having the funds available enables many people in the county to participate in improving tree canopy in their neighborhood,” she told commission members.
Arlington leaders have set a goal of 40% tree canopy across the county’s 26 square miles, part of a broader treescape initiative across the D.C. region. A number of recent analyses have pegged the current canopy at around 33%.
The Tree Canopy Fund supports tree-planting efforts on private property. Homeowners, civic associations and local groups can apply.
At the parks-commission meeting, there was some discussion whether limited resources should be focused on underserved geographic and demographic areas of Arlington.
But a number of members countered that anyone who wants to support trees should be encouraged to participate, even if they have the financial resources to do so on their own.
“Adding to the tree canopy in Arlington is an absolute good — it helps us meet a lot of our other goals, as well, including stormwater,” said commission member Alex (Boris) Sanders.
Support for continued funding through the non-profit organization seemed to have commission support. It is “a godsend to have EcoAction,” said Gary Shinners, who was leading the Park and Recreation Commission meeting in the absence of chair Jill Barker.
An unrelated part of the Jan. 21 meeting might have hit on a strategy for issues like tree-canopy funding.
Members of the Park and Recreation Commission have contacted the Fairfax County Park Foundation for information about setting up a similar, grass-roots park-support mechanism in Arlington.
“I reached out to Fairfax, will be chatting with them,” Arlington parks commission member William Way said.
That organization, established by the Fairfax Board of Supervisors in 2000, provides about $2 million a year in support to the Fairfax County Park Authority.
While not specifically addressing that proposal, EcoAction Arlington’s Hodges suggested thinking outside the box was going to be needed in an era when revenue is not flowing to the county government’s coffers as it once was.
“We’re going to need to come up with creative solutions so we can get more trees in the ground across the county,” she said.
