Tree Preservation Committee Taking Root

October 11, 2024
• Needham officials are working to form the Tree Preservation Planning Committee that would, in part, examine town regulations around trees and the removal of both public and private trees.

Following a recent brainstorming session, Needham residents and elected officials signaled a need to create a designated group on trees. The effort follows a contentious hearing on the requested removal of a public shade tree in August, which divided the Select Board but was ultimately approved.

Deputy Town Manager Katie King updated the board at its meeting Tuesday on the committee’s drafted guidelines and mission, which makes reference to the Needham Climate Action Plan — part of that plan states the need to “maximize tree canopy,” which coincides with stormwater management.

The Tree Preservation Planning Committee would also carry out the town’s goal of increasing the public tree inventory by 2050, and should trees be removed, the committee would see that they “be replaced by at least the same amount of tree canopy,” measured by tree caliper, the draft states. The goal for private trees is to have no net loss, King said.

Other draft principles address where new tree plantings go, as well as dead or dying trees that could pose a safety risk.

“This idea of ‘right tree, right location’ for all new tree plantings — not that you can just plant any tree anywhere and have that achieve your goals, that might not be the case,” King said. “We also want to acknowledge that the answer isn’t that you can never take down a tree. There are times when taking a tree down or managing it because it’s dead and dying is the appropriate thing to do.”

Those goals, however, confused Select Board member Marianne Cooley, who said she hopes the town won’t be responsible for the replacement of trees on private property. Trees in the berm — the space between the street and sidewalk — often are jeopardized due to underground gas and other utilities, Cooley said.

“If we have a strategy that says you can take down a tree on your property, but you need to replace it, then I would be far more supportive,” Cooley said.

In August, Manning Street property owners sought board approval to remove a berm tree, which they said would interfere with their driveway construction. Missing one of its five members, the Select Board voted 2-2 before Cathy Dowd broke the tie at their following meeting.

In conjunction with the new committee, King said the online building permit process now includes a pilot question concerning public shade trees within 10 feet of the lot. If such a tree exists, King said the permit would be reviewed by town engineers and, if necessary, Parks and Forestry Superintendent Ed Olsen.

The Department of Public Works has access to $10,000 to inventory street trees in its 2025 budget, King added. The DPW will also request funding to remove additional diseased public trees as well as plant new ones.

Sensing a lack of urgency in the committee’s charge, Select Board member Josh Levy suggested they host a public hearing. A tree summit, however, would require additional meetings to assess what it would accomplish, Fitzpatrick said. Other board members suggested the committee get settled before holding a hearing.

“There are differing views on trees, believe it or not, of whether they should stay or go,” Fitzpatrick said, “and we want to make sure we get all the voices and not just one side.”

There is no definitive timeline for the committee to issue recommendations.

Among its recommended strategies include education around town tree programs, additional research into tree bylaws in other communities and funding for setback trees, which are private trees the town plants on private property.

The tree committee would be composed of nine members who serve a two-year term and are appointed by the Select Board.

Given the complexity of the tree concern in town, Vice Chair Heidi Frail said she feels the committee shouldn’t rush to pass a bylaw without analyzing the issue in depth.

Board Chair Kevin Keane said he hopes the committee sets its sights high.

“I hope this isn’t just one and done,” Keane said. “A bylaw would be great, but I think this is a multi-faceted problem.”

The board will take a vote on the tree committee, with possible updates, at its next meeting Oct. 22.