NEIGHBORWOODS TREE CANOPY
PROGRAM GUIDELINES
2015-2016PLANTING SEASON
Thank you for your interest in the NeighborWoods Tree Canopy Program. NeighborWoods is a
collaborative partnership between the City of Charlotte and TreesCharlotte, focused on keeping
Charlotte’s tree canopy healthy and beautiful.
The purpose of the Tree Canopy Initiative is to:
● Increase tree canopy
● Provide energy savings
● Contribute to clean air & water
● Improve neighborhood quality of life
● Enhance property values
● Create a sense of community
● Educate youth & adults on tree benefits & care
Program Intent: To encourage neighborhoods to implement tree planting & tree protection strategies
to assist in achieving Charlotte’s Tree Canopy goal of 50% by 2050.
Selected neighborhoods will receive tree planting and care training, trees and planting supplies to
increase & protect the tree canopy. Neighbors will work together to plant trees in individual yards and
common areas.
The NeighborWoods tree planting season occurs annually from October 5th through April 15th.
Applicants must attend a NeigborWoods Pre-Application Workshop. Workshops will be held at Old City
Hall, 600 E. Trade Street on:
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January 21nd 5:30-6:30 pm
February 10th 12:00-1:00 pm
February 11th 5:30-6:30 pm
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March 4th
March 10th
March 18th
5:30-6:30 pm
12:00 – 1 pm
5:30–6:30 pm
If you are unable to attend the prescheduled meetings, you may request an individual meeting.
Additional information can be obtained by contacting Louise Bhavnani at (704) 353-1235 or
lbhavnani@charlottenc.gov.
Program Eligibility:
Eligible Communities: Eligible Communities: Eligibility is limited to neighborhoods with a Median
Household Income (MHI) of less than or equal to 90% of the Area Median Income (AMI) as
determined by the current Quality of Life Dashboard. This threshold is currently $61,650, the same as
the Neighborhood Matching Grants program.
You may check your eligibility here:
http://charmeck.org/city/charlotte/nbs/about/Pages/MappingApplication.aspx
Enter your address or parcel ID number, and your eligibility will be shown in the information bubble.
If you are a school, faith-based institution, public housing facility, business or other non-residential use
or a public housing community, please contact Tammy Seigel, TreesCharlotte Program Director, at
704-650-4189 to discuss tree planting options.
Selected neighborhoods will be required to participate in the following activities as leverage toward
the program:
1. Establish NeighborWoods Team: Roles may be shared amongst a project team. However one
(1) person should be identified as a primary contact for each role.
 Program Manager: Responsibilities include:
 Serve as liaison between the neighborhood, the City, TreesCharlotte and other applicable
partners for current and future Tree Canopy initiatives,
 Recruit Tree Steward(s) and Community Correspondent(s),
 Work with City Staff, TreesCharlotte and NeighborWoods Team to coordinate
NeighborWoods workshop and TreeStore event.
 Ensure adequate resident participation through resident sign-up & registration
 Tree Steward: Creates a sense of ownership for the tree canopy amongst neighborhood
participants and to provide for its continued maintenance. Responsibilities include:
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Ensure that trees are being watered on a consistent basis,
Remind residents of how to properly care for their newly established trees,
One (1) Tree Steward is required for every 50 trees planted on individual lots,
One (1) additional Tree Steward is required for each common area that receives tree
plantings; these Tree Stewards will be responsible for watering tree plantings in the
common areas until they are established and in a position to survive on their own.
 Community Correspondent: Responsible for publicizing tree canopy initiatives and soliciting
community support & participation. Efforts may include the following as needed:
 Organizing door-to-door campaigns
 Work with NeighborWoods Program Manager to hold community meetings
 Utilize social, digital and/or print media to inform neighbors and solicit participation
2. Sign Resident Stewardship Pledge: Residents receiving trees through NeighborWoods must sign
a pledge committing their best efforts to water and care for their trees. Resident Stewardship
Pledges will be distributed at the Neighborwoods Community Planting Event.
3. Host NeighborWoods Events: The neighborhood must host one (1) NeighborWoods Workshop
and attend or host one (1) Community TreeStore
 The NeighborWoods workshop will engage residents to participate & provide planting day
logistical information.
 Tree planting events will occur between October 15th and March 15th and will be
coordinated with TreesCharlotte.
*Financial/In-Kind contributions are not required but if provided to enhance the grant opportunity, these
contributions should be reflected in the NeighborWoods online application.
General Information:
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Applicants must be registered with the Planning Department’s Neighborhood Database,
http://charmeck.org/city/charlotte/planning/AreaPlanning/NeighborhoodOrganizationalList/Pa
ges/home.aspx
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Attendance at a NeighborWoods Pre-Application Workshop is required (one meeting per
neighborhood). If you cannot attend the prescheduled meetings, individual meetings may be
scheduled by contacting Louise Bhavnani at 704-353-1235 or lbhavnani@charlottenc.gov
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Tree planting capacity differs due to space, topography, condition of existing canopy and
other constraints
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Collaboration between neighboring churches, parks, community centers etc. is highly
encouraged.
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Applications shall be submitted online; assistance is available for organizations that do not
have internet access.
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Tree supplies are limited. Interested neighborhoods not selected for planting during the
current planting season will be invited to reapply for participation the following season.
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Existing projects may not receive funding; reimbursement will not be provided for trees
planted in advance of a neighborhoods participation in the program.
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Tree plantings are limited to a maximum of three (3) trees per individual homeowner lot.
Additional trees may be provided during NeighborWoods events, if available these trees will
be distributed on a first come, first serve basis.
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A minimum of 20% participation of neighborhood homes’ is required. Interested residents
should complete the NeighborWoods Participant Sign-Up sheet prior to submitting an
application. Additional participants can be added prior to the Tree Planting Event.
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Residents must receive tree planting & care instructions and sign a stewardship pledge to
receive trees. The number of trees and tree species availability are provided on a first
come, first serve basis and are subject to change.
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Trees provided through TreesCharlotte meet the minimum size and quality standards of the
City of Charlotte.
NeighborWoods application materials including Application and Participant Sign-Up Sheet are
available at:
http://charmeck.org/city/charlotte/nbs/communityengagement/Pages/NeighborWoods.aspx
NeighborWoods Schedule & Application Deadlines:
Schedule & Deadlines
January 1st – May 1st
NeighborWoods Application Submission Period
*after attending pre-application workshop
May 1st
NeighborWoods Application Deadline
July 1st
Neighborhoods Notified
October 15th – April 15th
NeighborWoods Planting Season
NeighborWoods Selection Criteria
To this point we have served every neighborhood that has applied but if we cannot
accommodate all neighborhoods, the following selection criteria will be used.
Possible
Selection Criteria
Points
Project Impact/Need
 Project is located in neighborhood with 0%-25% Residential Tree cover (25)
25
 Project is located in neighborhood with 26%-49% Residential Tree cover (15)
 Project is located in neighborhood with 50% or Greater Residential Tree cover (5)
Participation/Collaboration
 Project involves broad-based participation, min 20% resident participation req’d (15)
 Project is a collaboration of several organizations and/or diverse groups (30)
45
Project Design
 Project includes common areas with tree planting potential (15)
 Project includes strategy to promote program to residents (10)
 Shows a clear and reasonable vision for sustaining the tree canopy (5)
30
Total Possible Points
100