We recommend that the Providence Landscaping Ordinance, which is part of the Providence Zoning Ordinance, be adopted in a statewide approach toward improving urban forestry practices by regulating the planting and removal of trees. The Ordinance requires trees to be planted both on public and private property in order to achieve 25% canopy cover, including inspections of trees on private property when building permits are issued. It also requires investigation and approval for all tree removal requests by the city forestry office, and compensation for each tree being cut to plant a tree in different location. The city of Newport has already adopted this approach.

Regulations should also specify the species and placement of trees. The quantity of trees to be planted should be based upon the square footage of the new construction. This quantity should be in addition to any plantings that are required for new parking lots. Existing trees if of appropriate species may count towards those requirements.

Regulation should be put in place regarding tree planting and removal and sidewalks. These should include new sidewalks and old sidewalks that are being replaced. Sidewalks should include a grass strip to allow for proper infiltration, or they should be constructed from permeable materials. Numbers of trees and species planted should be regulated. Any trees that are removed from sidewalks should be approved and replaced.

Regulations regarding new parking lots should be adopted similar to those in place in Davis, California. These regulations state that 50% of the paved area of the lot should be shaded within 15 years of planting. These also contain regulations regarding the design of the planting wells and the area around them to allow for proper infiltration of water and air. Species choices should be based on a list of recommended species for this geographical region.

For new and affordable housing developments, regulations should require a certain number of existing trees to remain as well as new trees to be planted in order to comply with the 25% canopy cover requirement. Existing developments should be required to maintain existing trees as well as plant enough new trees to meet this goal.

Statewide educational and incentive programs should be focused on encouraging the retrofitting of existing parking lots and existing residential and commercial properties. We recommend a mandate that existing parking lots that are in violation of the 1985 ordinances that are in place must come up to code with new plantings.

Finally, the external condensers for all new and existing central air conditioning systems should have associated shade plantings.

We recognize the success of such legislation is based on the effectiveness of local and state officials in communicating and enforcing these requirements.