Asheville fills long-awaited urban forester position. Who got the job, what will they do?

ASHEVILLE - The city has announced the hiring of an urban forester, a position some area environmentalists have long advocated for.

Keith Aitken, a current recreation program leader for Asheville Parks and Recreation, was introduced as the city's pick during a March 7 Urban Forestry Commission meeting.

“This has been a long time coming for me,” Aitken said at the meeting. Since he first came to the city in the late '90s, he's hoped for an urban forester position to open up.

After vocal support in the lead up to budget adoption, the position was funded in the fiscal year 2023 budget to the tune of $108,000.

Aitken said he was glad the time was finally here, "and I’m super excited that it’s me." Aitken will begin March 20.

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Members of the Urban Forestry Commission shared his enthusiasm at the announcement.

"We’ve been working on arriving at this moment now for at least four years," said member Patrick Gilbert. "A lot of people have put a tremendous amount of work and effort into getting you here, and we really appreciate you being here, and are excited for you to get started in the job."

According to the city's adopted budget, the urban forester position is intended to "to enhance staff capacity and professional expertise to implement the Tree Canopy Protection Ordinance Amendment (e.g., development project review, field implementation), disburse fee-in-lieu funds, provide cross-departmental coordination, and effectively engage community partners."

At the meeting, Nancy Watford, zoning and stormwater supervisor with the city's Development Services Department, said the new position will fall within the zoning site division of DSD.

"His role is going to be more of an advisory role for the planners and support of the team and enacting the tree canopy ordinance, questions about the steep slopes, that sort of thing," Watford said.

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A city-funded study by Davey Research Group of Kent, Ohio, released in late 2019 found Asheville lost 6.4% of its tree canopy from 2008-18, or 891 acres. The study's authors labeled the reduction a "call to action," saying the city should take steps to stop — and even reverse — the loss.

It was noted that trees are key players in fighting and reducing the effects of climate change by absorbing climate-warming carbon, cooling areas with shade and soaking up heavy rains that cause stream pollution and flooding.

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Aitken has been with Parks and Recreation since 2015, and said "forestry has always been part of my heart, my focus, and I'm super pumped about getting ready, getting started and supporting the needs of the city of Asheville."

City spokesperson Kim Miller said the city was unable to provide Aitken's salary of the new position, but that it will be available through the city's public salary database March 20.

Miller said Aitken has over 15 years of experience in forest management and research, and also has knowledge of grant management.

In addition to implementing and enforcing the canopy protection ordinance, the position includes responsibilities including the following:

• Provides oversight in the technical review process related to trees and urban forestry.
• Manages disposition of fee-in-lieu funds related to the canopy protection ordinance.
• Ensures proper field implementation of tree protection plans.
• Management of the landscape third-party inspections, arborist reports and enforcement oversight and remediation.
• Provides leadership in developing and implementing a comprehensive urban forestry program.
• Ordinance, Policy, and Process updates to Tree Protection Ordinance, Tree Removal, Steep slope, Zoning Enforcement and other UDO changes as needed. 

Sarah Honosky is the city government reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. News Tips? Email shonosky@citizentimes.com or message on Twitter at @slhonosky. Please help support this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.