The Atlanta City Council voted March 17 to temporarily exempt the Atlanta Beltline and other public infrastructure projects from certain tree removal and replacement rules.
Supporters argue this will address delays in key projects, while environmentalists warn it could harm Atlanta’s tree canopy, according to a report from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Sponsored by council members Dustin Hillis and Marci Collier Overstreet, the exemption applies to projects managed by the city’s Watershed Management, Transportation, and Enterprise Assets Management departments, as well as the Beltline and PATH Foundation.
While projects under the exemption must replace trees where possible, any removed trees that can’t be replanted will require a fee paid into Atlanta’s tree trust fund.
The exemption will expire either when a new tree ordinance takes effect or by March 17, 2026.
The exemption comes as the council considers changes to the city’s outdated tree ordinance, which hasn’t seen significant updates in more than two decades. Despite a goal of maintaining 50% tree canopy, a 2018 study showed it had dropped to 46.5%, with further losses likely due to new development.
Though the council last adjusted the tree ordinance in 2022, a complete overhaul has faced resistance from both tree advocates and developers. A final vote on the revised ordinance could happen next month
