Tree Hearing Not So Clean Cut

August 16, 2024
• A normally routine public shade tree removal hearing blossomed into a full-blown discussion about the changing nature of the town at a recent Select Board meeting.

As a participant in the Tree City, USA program, the town tends to be protective of its public shade trees. Whenever one needs to be removed, a public hearing is held before the Select Board giving neighbors and officials a chance to weigh in on the decision. At their August 13th meeting, a tree on Manning Street became the root of a much larger debate about the decisions developers and property owners make when designing changes, and the consequences that arise in the aftermath. The hearing left the board divided and put the spotlight on the need for new official policy.

This story ran as part of the Needham Channel News, a weekly newscast airing on The Needham Channel every Thursday at 7:30pm. The Needham Channel News can be found on the Community Channel: Comcast 9, Astound 15 and Verizon 29. Most Thursdays it also can be viewed on our HD Channel on Verizon 2129, Astound 613 and streaming on this site.