Commissioners to talk tree preservation at upcoming meetings

August 31, 2026 Christine Fonville

As officials work toward updating the county’s tree protection ordinance, two commissioners are teaming up to host a series of meetings to gain community feedback and more.

Commissioners Ted Terry and Michelle Long Spears announced the following September dates and locations for these town halls, open to the public:

3 at Tobie Grant Recreation Center, located at 593 Parkdale Drive, Scottdale.
9 at Exchange Recreation Center, located at 2771 Columbia Drive #2771, Decatur.
10 at Lou Walker Senior Center, located at 2538 Panola Road, Lithonia.
14 at a virtual meetup via TEAMS (Meeting ID: 296 785 217 260 543, Passcode: 9fn937dD).
16 at Tucker-Reid H. Cofer Library at 5234 Lavista Road, Tucker.

Each meeting is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. and will include an introduction to the tree protection ordinance, a discussion on the ordinance, a question-and-answer segment, and a survey for attendees.

“Our tree canopy is part of what makes DeKalb County special, and it’s long overdue for an update that reflects how our community has grown,” said Long Spears. “I’m proud to partner with Commissioner Terry on this rewrite, and I’m even prouder that residents will be the ones shaping it.”

An assessment released last year by DeKalb County’s Department of Planning and Sustainability showed the county going greener over the last decade.

According to the Urban Tree Canopy (UTC) study (described as a detailed report quantifying the extent and impact of DeKalb County’s tree coverage) more than a decade ago, trees covered under 58 percent of the land in unincorporated DeKalb. By 2023, the tree canopy increased to more than 60 percent.

“Trees are more than just beautiful to look at; they provide us with shade, offset heat island effects, aid in water dispersal, prevent erosion, and produce the very air we breathe,” stated Terry. “This tree ordinance update will ensure that we are protecting our trees today and for years to come.”

The Arbor Day Foundation recognizes DeKalb County as a “Tree City USA” for its ongoing maintenance and growth of local greenery. Local programs such as ReLeaf DeKalb have worked in partnership with Trees Atlanta to beautify DeKalb and expand the county’s tree canopy, according to officials within the county’s sustainability department.

For more information, visit commissionertedterry.com/tree-ordinance/.