PORT TOWNSEND — The City Council voted to enact an ordinance Monday night that will limit cutting of trees on some pieces of property in Port Townsend, despite strong opposition from one of its members.
It applies to lots of 40,000 square feet or more and smaller vacant lots.
“This is an unnecessary deputizing of city staff and it puts the government in our backyard where I feel they do not belong,” said Councilman Geoff Masci, who cast the lone dissenting vote.
Believing the ordinance is already too restrictive, Masci was adamant about not voting for the measure, which he estimated cost the city about $50,000 to develop.
Masci said he doesn’t agree with the enforcement efforts allowed by the ordinance.
Fines in the thousands of dollars could be levied against property owners who cut their trees, he said.
Councilwoman Freida Fenn spoke in favor of tighter controls for when the ordinance would be applied, saying she doesn’t believe the ordinance is restrictive enough.
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The rest of the story appears in the Tuesday Peninsula Daily News Jefferson County edition.
