The County Council is currently considering additional legislation that will likely have a significant impact on neighborhood building.  In meetings with citizen associations, Renewing Montgomery often finds residents are unaware new legislation is being considered that will create new restrictions on their property rights and will likely have unintended consequences that are impossible to predict.

Information on pending legislation having a potentially significant impact on neighborhood building is provided below, along with links for additional information. Some of the regulations listed have been approved but are not yet effective, others have been introduced but are not yet approved, and some are in a formative stage.

Urban Tree Legislation: Council members Marc Elrich and Roger Berliner are coordinating unadvertised meetings with selected County residents to formulate legislation that would restrict an owner’s right to remove trees on the owner’s property.  Elrich has stated that, following approval of amendments to the Forest Conservation Law (introduced as Bill 37-07 and currently being considered by the Council), he will introduce legislation that will require a permit and County approval before a tree can be removed on private property.

If you would like to provide comments to the Council on the issue of regulating the removal of trees on private property, please email your comments to County.Council@montgomerycountymd.gov

Councilmember Nancy Floreen has created a blog, with the Forest Conservation law as the first featured subject. To post comments or questions on issues dealing with trees under the Forest Conservation Law or the “urban” tree bill, visit http://nancyfloreen.blogspot.com/