Commission reviews spring plantings, roadside projects and setback-tree outreach

Commissioners and volunteers reported May 7 that spring planting and outreach are under way across Northampton, with volunteers, students and staff joining municipality crews to plant trees and promote the city’s setback-tree program.

Volunteers and staff said 50 trees were planted since the early-April JFK planting, which included about 29 trees. The commission reported delivery of roughly 100 nursery trees from Chestnut Ridge (Upstate New York) and Amherst Nursery; staff said smaller-size stock may be grown out and planted in the fall. The commission also described a science-class planting on Ridgeview Road that replaced ash trees and included an emerald ash borer demonstration.

Commission members described a door-hanger outreach push for the setback-tree program. Commission volunteers distributed roughly 30 door hangers on Con Street, Fruit Street, South Street and neighboring dead ends; the commission agreed to supply another run of hangers (volunteers requested 50). Staff said there were 34 setback trees planted in 2023 and that staff can report current-year totals at a future meeting. Staff noted some requests come through a web form, and some demand is word-of-mouth as neighbors see planting activity.

In project updates, staff described the Rocky Hill Road Greenway project’s planned retaining wall and path work; some trees will be removed and public shade-tree hearings were held previously for trees that meet the public-shade-tree criteria. Staff said additional trees may require removal on a fenced access road that serves a Berkshire Gas valve station; those trees are not public shade trees and will be handled through the contractor’s arborist and preconstruction coordination.

Commissioners noted recent removals at two development sites. A public shade tree removed at 39 Day Avenue was replaced per mitigation requirements tied to a three-unit project. At 140 Woodland Drive (a Habitat for Humanity-related site mentioned in discussion), staff said trees in the public right-of-way were not planted and the applicant will pay into the mitigation fund rather than plant in constrained locations; the mitigation funds are used to support city tree-planting initiatives.

Volunteers asked for continued support for the setback program and additional printed materials; staff agreed to provide more door hangers. Commissioners discussed locations such as Ellbrook Field (questions about suitability for trees near new pickleball courts), State/Elm Street and Phillips Place, where tree plantings or tree pits will be evaluated through site-plan review and by the tree warden.

Commission members emphasized that a mix of educational outreach, plan review, and on-the-ground plantings is required to maintain canopy gains amid development pressures and competing sustainability priorities.

Quotes in this article come from commissioners and volunteers recorded on the May 7 meeting audio.