Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Urban Forestry topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Hinsdale tree board approves removal of two honey locusts at 608 South Vine; permit fees, landscaping set
Summary
At a July 15 special meeting the Hinsdale Tree Board approved removal of two honey locust trees at 608 South Vine Street, agreed the homeowner will pay permit fees totaling $10,000, and set conditions for removal or preservation of nearby Norway spruces and subsequent landscaping.
Hinsdale Tree Board on July 15 approved removing two honey locust trees adjacent to a proposed new home at 608 South Vine Street and set permit and landscaping conditions for the property owner and future homeowners.
The action stems from plans by Philip McLaughlin of Cashel Homes to rebuild at 608 South Vine, which, according to village forester John Fennell, would move the proposed foundation from about 18 feet to about 7–8 feet from the two honey locusts and likely cause unacceptable root and structural impacts. "It is per tree," Fennell said when the board discussed the $5,000 permit charge that applies to each approved removal.
The nut graf: The board concluded that the two honey locusts present a risk to the new foundation and to public safety if the root systems are compromised, and it set a path forward that requires the current property owner to pay permit fees and either remove or maintain nearby Norway spruce trees subject to village oversight.
Board members heard that five of the six trees under discussion were in fair or poor condition: one Norway spruce already met the village's guideline for removal because it is in poor condition; three Norway spruces were rated fair; and two honey locusts were judged to present significant risk if left adjacent to the new foundation. Fennell told the board the projected root loss "would create a structural risk condition that as a forester, I I don't find acceptable." The homeowner, identified during the meeting as Philip McLaughlin of Cashel Homes, initially objected to the cumulative cost but agreed to the board's summary and conditions after discussion, saying, "That's a lot," when informed of the per-tree fee.
The board's motion, made by Alexis (Tree Board member) and seconded by another member, approved: removal of the two honey locusts at the owner's expense; payment of a $5,000 permit fee per removed tree (totaling $10,000 for the two locusts); subsequent landscaping plans to be submitted and approved by village staff and by Fennell; and village removal of one leaning Norway spruce. The board also recorded that the homeowner may choose to remove additional Norway spruces while he owns the property, but any future removals after transfer of the property to a new owner would require a new application and board approval. The motion language, read into the record by Alexis, specified the action was under the village's forestry code (Title 7, Chapter 2, Section 2(b)(1)).
Board members and staff discussed how the village's per-tree permitting fee is intended to discourage unnecessary removals and to cover administrative and mitigation costs. When the homeowner asked whether the fee could be negotiated, staff said the $5,000 per-tree fee is set by village code and not discretionary.
The board approved the motion by voice vote with no recorded opposition. Following the vote the chair said staff would follow up with the property owner to finalize timelines and the required landscaping plan.
Ending: The approved removals and conditions will be implemented as part of the building-permit process for the reconstruction at 608 South Vine Street; any further tree removals beyond those authorized in the July 15 action will require separate review and approval by the Hinsdale Tree Board.
