Planning Offers Free Trees To Grosvenor, Bethesda Property Owners

Grosvenor-Strathmore Metro station area from above

The Planning Department is now offering free trees to property owners in the Grosvenor area, an expansion of the program looking to create more tree canopy in urban areas of the county without much of it.

The department’s Shades of Green program is funded primarily by required contributions from developers who don’t replace or plant new trees on their sites. Since 2012, the Planning Department has offered property owners in some urban areas the chance to apply for a variety of almost 20 trees, ranging in height from 25 feet to 40 feet and taller.

The program has been active in downtown Bethesda, Friendship Heights and Westbard. A 2011 study by the department found that many of the county’s developed areas were lacking the 25 percent tree canopy benchmark meant to ensure cooler buildings, better air quality and reduction of the heat island effect.

In 2011, planners found the Bethesda Central Business District had 24 percent tree canopy coverage, the area around the Grosvenor apartments and Metro station had 44 percent, North Bethesda had 23 percent, White Flint had 19 percent and Friendship Heights had 31 percent.

Property owners interested must sign up for an evaluation. If tree experts determine the site has sufficient soil volume and sunlight, a property owner may qualify.

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