Conservation Commission Takes Up The Cause Of Trees

By Andrew Gorosko

The Conservation Commission is suggesting that the Legislative Council consider enacting a town ordinance that would protect healthy, large-diameter shade trees situated alongside town roads.

In an August 2 draft letter to the council’s ordinance committee, Conservation Commission Chairman Sally O’Neil, writes, “The 2004 Plan of Conservation and Development strongly supports the adoption of measures aimed at the protection of Newtown’s ‘pastoral, rural and scenic…landscape’ and ‘country lanes.’

“Given the rapid residential growth of our town, prompt action on a tree ordinance by the Legislative Council would be a significant step in achieving the vision of Newtown outlined in the…plan,” Ms O’Neil adds.

The Conservation Commission unanimously endorses the tree ordinance now in effect in the borough, she writes. That ordinance provides certain protections for healthy roadside shade trees of large diameter.

“The [Legislative Council] ordinance committee might like to consider its adoption for the entire Town of Newtown,” Ms O’Neil writes.

Public concerns about the protection of healthy, high-quality roadside trees surfaced recently after the town announced plans to remove dozens of trees from alongside Taunton Lane as a public safety measure. Also, the town has announced plans to remove dozens of trees from alongside Orchard Hill Road in conjunction with plans for an improved roadway and stormwater drainage system there.

The Legislative Council’s ordinance committee is slated to consider the public tree ordinance proposal, among other topics, when it meets Monday, August 9, at 7 pm, at Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main Street.

During the past two months, Conservation Commission members have discussed the advisability of a tree protection ordinance for the town, with some members supporting the measure and others questioning its wisdom. Commission member Donald Collier has spoken strongly in favor of a town tree ordinance.

The letter, which Ms O’Neil submitted to the ordinance committee, seeks to state a consensus of opinion among Conservation Commission members.

A town tree ordinance would cover the protection of trees in public places and alongside public rights of way. Protected trees would be known as “public trees.”