Board allows removal of tree at 2241 St. Charles to repair sewer line, requires landscape plan with tree replacements

The Montgomery City Architectural Review Board on Oct. 12 approved removal of a parkway tree at 2241 St. Charles in Capitol Heights to allow repair of a sewer lateral damaged by roots, with a condition that the property owner work with the Urban Forester on a landscaping plan that includes replacement or addition of two trees on the property.

Property owner Ernest Reevey told the board that repeated sewer backups revealed roots from a hickory tree had invaded the building’s lateral. He said he hired Arnhard Plumbing and an R&R contractor inspected the line; R&R’s representative was unavailable for the meeting because of surgery. Reevey said he removed visible roots and proposed replacing the lateral and replanting a tree in a different location on or adjacent to the property.

Board members and staff asked whether the line could be rerouted to avoid the tree; Reevey said the contractor had told him rerouting likely was not feasible because the roots are widespread. Members discussed alternatives, including moving replacement trees to adjacent areas off the public right-of-way. Several members said they favored preserving street trees where possible, but that the tree’s placement and the sewer damage supported removal. One board member noted that the tree sits in the right-of-way and, if removed, might not be replaceable in the same spot.

The board moved and approved the removal with the explicit condition that the owner work with the Urban Forester to produce a landscaping plan that includes at least two replacement trees on the property. The board also encouraged the owner to select appropriately sized specimens to improve survival. The transcript does not record exact vote counts.