West Windsor Shade Tree Commission reviews 2024 work, outlines Arbor Day plans and bamboo study

Helen Rankin, chair of the West Windsor Shade Tree Commission, told the Township Council on March 24 that the commission spent 2024 updating local tree rules and will focus in 2025 on Arbor Day, a bamboo study and a community forestry master plan.

Rankin said the commission rewrote township language in Chapter 170 ("trees on public and private property") to add tree-replacement requirements tied to stormwater pollution prevention and that the revised chapter became effective in late October 2024. "We started out determined to produce not only the clearest of language, but the best ordinance in the state. I believe we accomplished those 2 goals," Rankin said.

The commission reported that West Windsor received seven tree-removal permit applications in 2024 and denied one; through March 2025 the commission had processed three exemptions and received five removal permits. Rankin said the commission created an application form and lists of recommended and discouraged species and has begun producing minutes for each meeting to speed approvals.

Rankin described the commission's near-term calendar: the township's Arbor Day celebration is planned for April 26 at the Ron Rogers Arboretum and will include an elementary and middle-school art contest (entries due March 27). The commission will dedicate a tree planted in honor of former chair "Mr. Slinn" at the event and expects to participate in the township's community day if scheduled.

On policy and operations, Rankin said the commission will propose amendments to its enabling ordinance to require an annual chair's report to council and establish rules for electing a vice chair. She also said the commission will work with the Department of Public Works on a maintenance schedule for street trees to reduce the number of young trees that fail within three years.

Rankin said bamboo has become an issue in several municipalities and that the commission will "study the bamboo issue and will propose language that is both reasonable and enforceable in our town." She noted that council president Randell had posted that bamboo is already a discouraged plant in West Windsor and said the commission will consider stronger language.

Rankin and council members thanked volunteers and noted the commission is meeting requirements for Tree City USA designation and state accreditation. Council members voiced support for a proposed new budget line item of approximately $3,000 to help volunteers pay for trainings and event costs. "We appreciate the mayor and council are considering for the first time a budgetary line item of approximately $3,000 for the operation of the Shade Tree Commission," Rankin said.

The commission asked councilmembers to attend Arbor Day and said its longer-term work for 2025–26 will center on updating and enhancing West Windsor's community forestry and shade-tree master plan.