North Hempstead adopts revised tree policy despite residentsconcerns over 24-hour notice and advisory input

The Town of North Hempstead board voted to adopt a revised street-tree policy after a public hearing in which residents and local tree advocates urged the board to delay action and restore protections in the 2021 code.

Supporters of the existing policy and members of the town's tree-advisory community told the board the draft reads like a new law that would make it easier to remove large, mature street trees. "This proposed amendment also violates our own town code," said Margaret Galbreath, president of Transition Town Port Washington, during public comment, arguing the draft reduces public notice and weakens replanting requirements.

Critics highlighted three consistent concerns: the draft calls for a 24-hour notice to abutting homeowners when the highway department determines a tree on town right-of-way is dead or dangerous; it allows replacement trees as small as a 1.5-inch sapling rather than the current 3-inch minimum; and it was written, residents said, without consultation by the tree advisory committee. "24 hour notice is not enough," said Bea Helft, a Master Gardener with the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Nassau County.

Town officials and the town attorney defended the draft and the notice process. Robert Bogle, the town's chief deputy attorney, said the item is a policy (not a local law) referenced in local code and that the procedural notices required by town code were satisfied despite an earlier website switch. He said the draft restores operational discretion to the highway superintendent to act quickly in dangerous situations and that the town posted the policy text within the statutory period. "This is not a law. It is not a local law. It is a policy," Bogle said.

Highway staff and several councilmembers said the change was in part a response to instances where long administrative delays prevented prompt removal of hazardous trees. The superintendent of highways described the policy's 24-hour threshold as a minimum and stressed that emergency removals remain exempt. "If it is an emergency ... you don't have to notify anybody," one councilmember said during the discussion.

Supporters of the draft argued it balances safety and canopy goals; opponents said the changes risk accelerating canopy loss. Residents pointed to unfulfilled parts of the 2021 code, questioned whether the tree advisory committee had been adequately consulted, and asked for more time. The town attorney replied that many board members had circulated edits and that some suggestions had been incorporated.

The board recorded multiple 'aye' votes and at least one recorded 'no.' After debate the resolution to adopt the revised policy carried. The board did not set an additional public comment period before adopting the policy.

The board said the next steps will be internal implementation and training for staff to apply the policy; several councilmembers said they would pursue more outreach and consideration of posting practices for nonemergency removals.

Votes at a glance: Resolution to adopt revised tree policy; outcome: approved (recorded 'ayes' from multiple councilmembers; at least one 'no' recorded).