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Tree board moves to improve public notice about tree-permit rules; mailer and newsletter discussed
Summary
Board members said homeowners are still unaware of the town’s tree ordinance and discussed a mailed postcard, revived newsletter and posted flowchart to improve outreach; no formal ordinance change was voted at the meeting.
Members of the Chesapeake Beach Tree Board on June 3 discussed steps to increase public awareness of the town’s tree ordinance after several recent after-the-fact removal cases.
Board members and staff said the town currently notifies residents through an email e-blast but that too many homeowners do not receive or read those messages. The board discussed producing a mailed postcard to every homeowner, reviving a town newsletter for quarterly distribution, and posting a simple flowchart that explains when a permit is required.
Tree Board member Ken said the green team is preparing a mailer; board members noted Melanie Crowder’s flowchart that helps residents determine whether a permit is required. “We are going to design a postcard that can be mailed to every single homeowner in town,” the chair said. Board members also said the town administrator is considering restarting the town newsletter to reach households not covered by the e-blast.
No formal motion to change the ordinance was made; board members said any substantive amendment would require drafting, review, and approval by the town council. The board asked staff to compile other counties’ tree ordinances for review and to include the outreach plan on the August meeting agenda.
