The City of Langley sent this email to residents on Tue., July 22, 2025.
A Message from the Mayor
Dear Langley Residents and Friends,
I am sharing remarks that I made yesterday in the City Council meeting regarding the removal of trees on Furman Avenue:
I want to speak to the concerns raised about the recent removal of six trees on Furman Avenue. I know this has been painful for many in our community – especially those who live on Decker, Furman and Edgecliff. I acknowledge your grief and concern. It is impossible not to feel the loss of those trees.
As the mayor, I carry a responsibility not only to listen to your concerns but also to balance competing obligations – public safety, environmental stewardship, democratic process, and fiscal responsibility. That balance isn’t always easy, especially when it involves difficult decisions like tree removal of such majestic trees.
The concerned messages I received consistently expressed disappointment around execution of the LIP tree protection protocol. I want to be clear: the City and its contractor followed the protocol thoroughly and in good faith.
Long before groundbreaking, the City invested significantly in tree protection: all the trees potentially affected by the project were assessed by an arborist, documented, and surveyed to ensure careful handling during construction. A protocol was also established to guide construction activities around trees if roots were encountered during trenching.
When the contractor encountered significant roots on Furman, the consulting arborist was immediately informed and brought on site. The trenching method was adjusted, and when root impact was still subsequently observed, a second arborist was consulted. The trees were ultimately deemed a safety hazard, a conclusion supported by both arborists’ reports, the property owner, and the contractor.
I notified the council of the situation in a public statement on July 7. That same week, the City began preparing a thoroughly documented application for a tree permit. During that time, the Parks and Open Space commission added this topic to their regular meeting agenda and raised several questions, which were addressed in a memo submitted with the permit application.
Prior to removing the trees, the City was granted a permit. However, we did not post the on-site tree removal notice three-days in advance, as required for non-hazardous tree removal. That was an oversight that I regret, because I know how important trees are to our community – and how important it is to respect their passing. In the future, and if the tree is not deemed immediately hazardous, we will ensure that on-site signage is posted in advance.
While I understand the removal was upsetting, I want to be clear: the City’s approach was careful, thorough, and aligned with our policies. The protocols are not a promise that no trees will be lost—but they are a commitment to weigh every factor responsibly.
I also want to note that the situation on Furman and Decker is more challenging because the sewer extension requires twelve-foot trenches. In contrast, the water and stormwater projects farther down Edgecliff will require only four-to-five-foot trenches, which we hope will allow for more flexibility in protecting trees in those areas.
Looking ahead, we will continue to apply rigor to future decisions and will ensure that any required on-site signage is posted on time. We will, however, continue to move forward at pace. As a reminder, what was initially an 18-month project schedule has been compressed into 9 months to protect bald eagle habitat.
Finally, I would like to note that Ms. Salerno has submitted an appeal of the tree permit. While the City’s municipal code does not provide for appeals of tree removal permits, I appreciate Ms. Salerno’s actions, as they will help us to clarify this part of the code moving forward.
Sincerely,
Krista “Kennedy” Horstman
Mayor
On the Ballot in November 2025
| CITY OF LANGLEY |
|---|
| Councilmember, Position 1 Thomas E. Gill Incumbent Harolynne Bobis did not file to retain her seat |
| Councilmember, Position 2 Dominique Emerson Incumbent Rhonda Salerno did not file to retain her seat |
| Councilmember, Position 5 Savannah Erickson Incumbent Gail Fleming did not file to retain her seat |
