Worcester commissioners to resume deep review of draft urban-forest Best Management Plan and link it to street-tree ordinance updates

The Worcester City Urban Forestry Tree Commission agreed to resume a detailed review of the draft Best Management Plan (BMP) and to tie BMP recommendations to proposed updates to the city’s street-tree ordinance.

Rob, the parks staff liaison, told commissioners there is not yet an updated BMP draft and asked members to complete a commission review before staff produce a consolidated revision. “I’m looking for commission review first,” Rob said, noting staff will combine commissioner edits and then circulate a revised draft to departments for their review.

Commissioners discussed ordinance scope and process. The commission clarified its municipal remit centers on the street-tree ordinance and the BMP, while planning, zoning and the City Council handle parking-lot requirements and private-property regulations. Rob described the council process: an ordinance typically goes to a council subcommittee or committee for public hearing and then requires two votes (advertise and ordain).

Commissioners also discussed preparing a city-specific street-tree species list to improve species diversity and climate resilience; Planning staff had asked for a species list to streamline permitting and planting specifications. The commission agreed to include that work as part of the BMP/street-tree package.

The commission kept the BMP and tree-ordinance review on old business and asked members to read the draft and send comments to staff; staff will collect comments and aim to have departmental feedback by the end of the calendar year, with the goal of finishing review this year if feasible.

The commission noted potential expansion of scope — a significant-tree ordinance for private trees — but agreed such an item would require legal review to determine appropriate department jurisdiction and whether the recommendation should proceed through planning or remain with urban forestry.