For more than 25 years, I have worked with Annapolis's forest conservation law, first as an environmental professional and now as your Ward 7 Alderman. So when Maryland recently overhauled its statewide Forest Conservation Act, I knew this was a moment that called for care, not a rubber stamp. This month I introduced legislation to update our City's forest conservation code, and I want to tell you what it does and why it matters.

A goal that finally caught up to us

Here is a piece of history I am proud of. For years, the state's goal was modest: just slow down how fast we lose forest. Then Annapolis adopted our own stronger law, known as "no net loss", which the state later adopted. And now, with these latest changes, Maryland has finally committed to actually increasing forest acreage across the state.

In several places, the state is getting there using approaches Annapolis put in place years ago. In other places, the new provisions are genuinely new to us. Either way, it is gratifying to watch the state catch up to where our community has been all along.

What the update does

Because our local law is often stronger than the state's and tailored to how Annapolis actually reviews projects, much of this work is careful adjustment, making sure our stricter code keeps functioning under the new state framework. The headline points:

We are keeping our stronger replanting standard. The state moved to a simpler, weaker formula that essentially aims to break even. Ours requires more replanting when more forest is cleared, because that is how you actually grow a canopy rather than just hold steady. I fought to keep it.

We are strengthening protection for our most valuable forests, the ones along streams, in floodplains, and in our neighborhoods. Before those can be cleared, the City will now give notice to nearby property owners and provide a real opportunity for public comment.

We are keeping retention of existing trees as the first priority, and treating paying a fee instead of planting as a true last resort.

Getting it right, not just fast

We have to adopt these updates by July 31. If we miss that deadline, our local law would default to the state's rules, which are weaker than what Annapolis has on the books. That is not an outcome I am willing to accept.

To meet the deadline, the Council is weighing two paths: moving the bill on an accelerated schedule, or adopting a temporary six-month pause on accepting new forest conservation applications while we finish the work. After a lot of thought, I am leaning toward the pause. It buys us the time to get every detail right, with minimal, if any, disruption to new development. On something this important, I would rather get it right than rush it.

Closing a gap before it opens

One more thing I caught, again drawing on decades with this law. The new state rules exempt large multifamily buildings of 25 or more units from afforestation (adding forest where there is none) requirements. On a site that has no existing forest, that can mean a project adds no street trees and no on-site trees at all, unless our separate site design rules happen to require them. That is not good for the families who will live there or for the surrounding neighborhood.

So I am developing a companion measure that would require tree canopy on these projects, adding street trees and other plantings at relatively low cost to developers but real benefit to residents. I would rather close that gap now than watch it get exploited later.

Why this matters

Our tree canopy cools our streets, soaks up stormwater, protects the Bay, and makes Annapolis a healthier and more beautiful place to live. This update keeps our local program strong at exactly the moment the state was loosening its own. That is the kind of steady, detail-driven work I am proud to do for Ward 7, and for the whole city.

As always, I want to hear from you. Reach out anytime.