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The intent of this chapter is to establish regulations and procedures for preservation of trees, to preserve the character of the community, to successfully retain desirable trees on developing and redeveloping sites, and to maintain a viable tree canopy for the City of Covington. Specifically, the regulations contained in this chapter are intended to accomplish the following goals and objectives:

(1) Promote the public health, safety and general welfare of the residents of Covington;

(2) Implement the purposes of the State Growth Management Act relating to conservation of natural resources;

(3) Support and implement the City of Covington comprehensive plan, specifically the land use element and natural environment element;

(4) Implement the goals of the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA);

(5) Improve the aesthetic quality of the built environment by reducing impacts on critical areas and the natural environment;

(6) Minimize erosion, siltation, water pollution, and surface and ground water runoff;

(7) Preserve significant trees for the reduction of noise and air pollution, wind protection, animal habitat, slope stabilization and retention of ground water;

(8) Assist with removing at-risk trees;

(9) Provide for delivery of reliable utility services, for reasonable development of property, for reasonable preservation or enhancement of property values, and for increases in privacy for residential sites;

(10) Promote building and site planning practices that are consistent with the City natural topography, soils, and vegetation features;

(11) Provide an appropriate amount and quality of tree retention related to future land uses;

(12) Provide for increased areas of permeable surfaces that allow for infiltration of surface water into ground water resources, reduction in the quantity of stormwater discharge, and improvement in the quality of stormwater discharge; and

(13) Provide for regulations that are clear, understandable, user friendly, easy to administer, and cost effective to enforce. (Ord. 02-21 § 2 (Exh. A); Ord. 05-20 § 2 (Exh. A); Ord. 04-08 § 2)