Sudbury commission approves removal of four trees at 15 Thoroughway with planting and monitoring conditions

The Sudbury Conservation Commission issued a negative determination of applicability allowing the removal of four trees at 15 Thoroughway (RDA 25-1) after the property owners said their insurer required the work.

Nicola Payne, owner of 15 Thoroughway, told the commission that four pine trees are leaning toward her sunroom and that her new insurance policy required pruning or removal of the overhanging trees. Payne said an earlier tree fall had damaged the home and that the new company insisted on removing the trees to maintain coverage.

Laurie, conservation staff, recommended the negative determination subject to conditions to ensure the removal is performed with minimal resource-area impact. Conditions include: a pre-work meeting between the contractor and conservation staff to confirm which trees will be removed and crane placement; stumps to remain in place; replacement planting of three native trees and four shrubs in a roughly 40-by-40-foot area; plant sizes of approximately two-inch caliper for trees and three-gallon containers for shrubs; invasive-species removal on-site; installation of plantings by June 1, 2025; and submission of photo documentation after work is completed. Laurie also said staff will provide a true attested copy of a previously issued, but unrecorded, septic certificate of compliance so the owners can record it to avoid future title issues.

Commissioners moved and seconded a motion to issue a negative determination confirming that the described tree removals are within the buffer zone but will not alter the resource area, subject to the conditions Laurie outlined. The motion passed on a recorded “aye” vote.

The commission closed this agenda item after voting to approve the conditioned negative determination.