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Tenafly council debates tree-ordinance relief, mitigation ratios and landmark designation process
Summary
Council members and staff discussed complaints from homeowners unable to meet tree-replacement calculations, the hardship/appeal process, mitigation ratios for large trees, and whether landmark-tree protection should be initiated without owner nomination.
Tenafly mayor and councilors spent an extended portion of their March 4 meeting discussing the borough’s tree ordinance, including whether homeowners who cannot physically replant required mitigation trees should have a clearer appeals path and how landmark tree designation is initiated.
The discussion began after councilors said residents reported being unable to plant the number of replacement trees required under the ordinance because their lot footprints are too small. Staff explained the ordinance calculates mitigation to “replace what you’ve taken away,” and if a property cannot accommodate the required replacements the owner may forfeit the mitigation payment into the borough’s Shade Tree Fund. A council member identified as Julie (speaker) said the fund has been used for townwide plantings, including “about…
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