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Council tables changes to tree ordinance fees after heated debate over who pays for removal and replanting
Summary
Residents and councilmembers clashed over proposed increases to tree-permit fees and diameter-based charges; council members cited decades of deferred maintenance and asked for clearer diseased-tree exemptions. The council voted to table the ordinance for legal review and a study session.
Dearborn Heights — The City Council on Feb. 24 debated proposed updates to the city's tree ordinance that would modestly raise permit fees and create larger, diameter-based charges tied to the tree fund, but after extended public comment and council questioning the item was tabled.
Residents raised concerns during public comment that the city has not consistently maintained street trees and that requiring homeowners to pay substantial fees to remove city trees would be unfair. "Where is the accountability to the city?" asked Angela Ven Angus, who said…
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