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Grand Island conservation board presses town over stalled tree law and lawyer edits

Grand Island Conservation Advisory Board · March 27, 2026

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Summary

The board said it completed a proposed tree-protection law but has seen months of delay after sending edits to the town lawyer; members worry developer-oriented changes and slow follow-up will weaken protections for public trees and hold up Tree City USA application.

The Grand Island Conservation Advisory Board said March 26 it has finished a locally drafted tree-protection law but has seen months of delay after sending its edits to the town lawyer, and members warned the town board may adopt a version influenced by developers rather than the committee’s text.

Chair said the committee completed a line-by-line edit and submitted it to the lawyer, but has had limited follow-up. “He actually took that, and it looks like there's action on that,” the Chair said, adding later that the version returned by the town lawyer did not reflect the committee’s changes.

Committee members said they fear the town board will table or dilute the measure. “It's a developer's law, clearly,” said Committee member (S4), who urged more assertive follow-up with town officials. Several members said previous attempts had been delayed or shelved after being sent to the town board.

Members said the committee’s goal is a narrow law protecting trees on public property and avoiding private-property permitting provisions. The board said it has tried to keep the draft focused so it would be acceptable to town board members and not require extensive permitting mechanisms that could bog it down.

The board noted an outreach path: planning-board interest in seeing the proposed amendments, and that Chair will share the committee’s latest draft with Planning Board representative Jen Busatier and Planning Board member Dave Bruno for review.

Board members said they will re-send the draft to the lawyer and make phone calls to press for clarity on the next town-board iteration. If the law is not advanced, they said it could jeopardize getting Tree City USA recognition this year because the application also requires a town budget line and other formal steps.

Next step: the committee said it will re-send the draft to town staff, follow up with the lawyer and planning board, and push for placement on the town board agenda for further consideration.