NFP board weighs ASLA 2040 climate-and-biodiversity plan as a resource for its guide

During the NFP work session the board discussed whether to reference the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) 'Landscape Architecture 2040: Climate and Biodiversity Action Plan' in the city’s Natural Features Protection (NFP) Guide. Director Munchow introduced the ASLA document and asked staff to circulate it for board members to read before an upcoming meeting.

Staff emphasized a distinction the group returned to repeatedly: the guide is an informal resource that can host references and educational content, while substantive regulatory changes would require ordinance amendments, legal review and approvals by other bodies. ‘‘The guide is less restrictive… it’s more of an informal resource,’’ Nolan said, and staff proposed sharing the ASLA material and scheduling a deeper work session.

Members discussed trade-offs: one board member representing developers said adding more prescriptive requirements could raise costs and reduce accessibility for smaller applicants, while others noted alignment between ASLA goals and the NFP’s long-range aims such as native plantings, water conservation and nature-based stormwater solutions. Board members asked staff to invite technical speakers (stormwater engineers, the city forester/arborist) and to circulate the ASLA plan prior to the next meeting so the board can determine which recommendations might be practical to reference in the guide without creating new regulatory burdens.

Staff connected the conversation to the city’s upcoming master plan update and said the timing is appropriate to coordinate broader sustainability goals with NFP guidance. No formal changes to the guide or ordinance were adopted; the board agreed to review the ASLA document and continue the discussion at a future work session.