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/0/7/9/ Protect urban trees ore than a year ago, people in should recognize the legitimacy of ru- Eugene awoke to the fact that ral land uses. logging on land that will one As city officials prepared to rec- da y be a annexed to the city was essen- ommend a modified tree protection y unregulated. The Lane County ordinance to the county, they decided Board of Commissioners has enacted to widen the scope of their work and temporary protection, and on Tues- prepare an urban forest management day the board voted to extend it. The plan, complete with goals and poli- action was welcome and will give city cies. City officials hope that the plan officials time to continue their work will be flexible enough to govern tree - on a plan to provide permanent pro- cutting practices throughout the area tection. inside the urban growth boundary. Eugene, recognizing the value of Public hearings on the plan are about trees in urban areas, has long had an to begin, and final adoption could oc- ordinance requiring a permit for the cur next summer. cutting of more than five trees on a In the meantime, the count com- piece of property. Until last year, the n missioners have shown commendable ordinance was effective only inside Patience by keeping the existing city the city limits. This created the dan- ordinance in effect. A year's worth of ger that the trees just outside the city limits would be cut before annexa- experience with the law may have shown them that it is not as restrictive tion, badly fraying Eugene's forested fringe. as it sounds. Tree - cutting permits are seldom denied. The main effect of the IAst year brought several in- ordinance is to ensure consultation stances of such logging in areas inside before large-scale logging occurs. the urban growth boundary - the ar- Such consultation can prevent care - ea designated for eventual urban ex- less and unnecessary logging, thereby pansion — but outside the current city protecting both property owners' and limits. Such cutting was unregulated the public's interest in preserving except by zoning laws dealing with trees. the preservation of trees and forested After Eugene officials complete ridgellnes. their plan, the county board may still The county commissioners agreed find that it can't be applied outside to extend Eugene's tree-cutting ordi- the city limits without modifications. nance to cover all land within the ur- But some form of permanent protec- ban growth boundary. The county tion for trees on the land ringing Eu- board warned, however, that perma- gene should be put in place. The city's nent adoption could not occur without effort promises to yield strong and amendments. While land inside the consistent tree - protection policies urban growth boundary is destined to throughout Eugene's current and fu- • • become part of the city, its current ture area. The county board is right to character is often rural and the law give the city the time it needs.