Neighbors object to Vancouver developer's plan to remove trees for housing

May 7-With the demand for housing in Vancouver not expected to slow any time soon, developers are increasingly turning to infill housing on vacant or underutilized lots within urban areas. In older, established neighborhoods, that can mean the loss of trees and green spaces residents have come to know and love.

One recent example is the Parkway East neighborhood, where Vancouver-based Ginn Group is planning to build single-family homes on a 7.3-acre property previously occupied by KKOV radio station. Ginn Group's application for zoning change, from R-9 to R-17, to allow for increased density, has several neighbors worried.

"There are two groves of Douglas firs, one in the northeast corner and one in the southwest," resident Cheryl Aichele said.

Ginn Group President Phil Wuest said his company attended the neighborhood group's March meeting. Ginn heeded concerns of Vancouver's urban forester and modified plans to retain one grove, Wuest said. He also pointed out that 123 homes would be allowed under the proposed R-17 zone, but Ginn is proposing only 82 homes.

"The development proposes all dwellings to be single-family detached residences, compatible with the surrounding existing neighborhood. All future dwellings will be two-story homes with garages," Wuest said.

Neighbors nonetheless say the small lots aren't a good fit for the neighborhood and the density will create an influx of traffic.

"(The developer) thinks that each of those houses are going to have eight trips in and out each day, so that's over 600 more car trips per day in our small neighborhood," Aichele said.

Concerns about the traffic impacts and tree removal were echoed by fellow neighbor Robin Oldham. She said if the zone change is denied, it would limit the developer to eight single-family homes per acre, or a total of 60 homes on the entire property, per city code.

"That's only 480 extra vehicle trips per day, not 656, and mature Douglas firs that are important to our neighborhood's tree canopy can be spared," she said.

Oldham said residents in the neighborhood aren't opposed to development, they just want to ensure new housing is compatible. Adding more than 80 new homes would be completely out of character and incompatible with the existing R-9 zoned neighborhood in terms of traffic, parking and emergency vehicle access, she said. And most of the mature Douglas firs would be felled as well.

"It inflicts too much harm on the mostly long-term residents of the surrounding neighborhood. It would be different if the parcel was much smaller and/or located on a major thoroughfare," she said.

One good thing has already come out of the planned development, Oldham said. The issues have brought the neighborhood closer and mobilized residents to work together.

"How wonderful would it be for the city council to validate such efforts by modifying the development plans, when there is good, rational reason for doing so," she said. "It would boost morale for many neighborhood associations and Vancouver residents. And it would be a terrific example of a responsive city government attempting to meet the needs of all its constituents."

City officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment on this story.

Public comment on the proposed zoning change is due to the city by 5 p.m. Friday.

This story was made possible by Community Funded Journalism, a project from The Columbian and the Local Media Foundation. Top donors include the Ed and Dollie Lynch Fund, Patricia, David and Jacob Nierenberg, Connie and Lee Kearney, Steve and Jan Oliva, The Cowlitz Tribal Foundation and the Mason E. Nolan Charitable Fund. The Columbian controls all content. For more information, visit columbian.com/cfj.

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This story was originally published May 7, 2026 at 7:11 AM.