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Centreville to apply for ShoreRivers ‘Tree the Shore’ grant; council moves to boost tree-permit outreach
Summary
Council authorized the parks/tree committee and town staff to pursue a ShoreRivers grant that provides free trees through 2027 and discussed ramping up education and enforcement of the town's tree-permit and replanting rules.
The Centreville Town Council on July 10 agreed to allow the parks advisory board and town staff to apply for ShoreRivers’ Tree the Shore grant, a multi-town program that provides free trees and runs through 2027. Staff said ShoreRivers will plant the trees and the town’s main commitment would be to water and maintain them to improve survival rates.
Council and staff also discussed compliance and education measures for tree removal in the town’s critical area. Staff told the council that a tree-removal permit is required even for trees that fall in storms, the permit carries no fee, and permittees are required to replant. The council heard that the parks advisory board and staff have begun outreach: the town intern drafted and mailed about 30 letters to area arborists and landscaping companies explaining the permit process and where to find the application online.
Staff described the ShoreRivers program as offering towns access to plant material and installation; other Eastern Shore towns such as Chestertown, Ridgely, Denton, Preston and Easton have used the program. The parks advisory board agreed to map priority planting locations and bring a recommended list to the council; one council member said the committee should identify about 30 potential planting sites for the application.
Council members emphasized the need to inform private-property owners about available tree-well replacements and discussed focusing town efforts on parks while encouraging private owners to apply for free trees where appropriate. The council directed staff and the committee to proceed with the application and to continue outreach to arborists and residents about the no-fee permit and replanting requirement.
