File #: Res 0364-2024    Version: * Name: Establish a tax incentive program to encourage developers to plant new trees in development sites.
Type: Resolution Status: Committee
Committee: Committee on Parks and Recreation
On agenda: 4/18/2024
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: Resolution calling on the State Legislature to introduce and pass, and the Governor to sign, legislation that would establish a tax incentive program to encourage developers to plant new trees in development sites.
Sponsors: Gale A. Brewer, Justin L. Brannan, Farah N. Louis
Council Member Sponsors: 3
Attachments: 1. Res. No. 364, 2. April 18, 2024 - Stated Meeting Agenda, 3. Hearing Transcript - Stated Meeting 4-18-24, 4. Minutes of the Stated Meeting - April 18, 2024

Res. No. 364

 

Resolution calling on the State Legislature to introduce and pass, and the Governor to sign, legislation that would establish a tax incentive program to encourage developers to plant new trees in development sites.

 

By Council Members Brewer, Brannan and Louis

 

Whereas, According to a 2021 report by The Nature Conservancy, the presence of trees in an urban environment provides benefits such as filtering air pollution, reducing flooding, cooling neighborhoods, and improving local respiratory health; and

Whereas, The Department of Parks & Recreation (NYC Parks) design and planning guidelines for flood resiliency call for planting new trees as part of preventing inundation from tidal flooding and future sea rise; and

Whereas, New York City has prioritized expanding the population of trees in the city with initiatives such as MillionTreesNYC; and

Whereas, Local laws and regulations around construction sites in New York City require developers to protect existing trees during construction or replace trees damaged during construction; and

Whereas, Developers are not required to add new trees to development sites where they did not exist before; and

Whereas, In 2022 NYC Parks testified at a City Council hearing that the cost of planting trees is $3,600 per tree; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls on the State Legislature to introduce and pass, and the Governor to sign, legislation that would establish a tax incentive program to encourage developers to plant new trees in development sites.

MJT

LS # 10328

2/14/2024, 3:31pm