Ann Felker, an Ashton Heights resident of 78 years, presented a petition signed by 609 neighbors asking the County Board to reinstate consideration of lot coverage limits in the county's low-density residential study.

Felker said the county's Forestry and Natural Resources Plan (adopted in December 2023) and a November 2024 work session showed larger houses are increasing impervious area and threatening the tree canopy. She asked the board to "touch the future" and restore lot-coverage review so new construction preserves legacy trees and space for the next generation of canopy.

Board members and the county manager described the ongoing study approach. County staff said the current low-density residential study is starting by assessing impervious area and plantable space; staff noted that prior lot-coverage changes left remaining areas paved and unusable, so the study is reviewing impervious-area trade-offs. The county manager encouraged public participation at the upcoming public engagement session and emphasized that the study’s outcomes are not predetermined.

No immediate ordinance change was made at the meeting. The board welcomed the petition and invited residents to participate in the study's public engagement sessions, including an open house scheduled Monday evening.

The petition frames lot-coverage limits as a tool to preserve canopy trees and environmental quality in established neighborhoods; the board and staff said they will seek public input as the study progresses.