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Committee questions low fee-in-lieu for street trees as homeowners warn of steep maintenance costs
Summary
Committee members questioned whether the city's fee-in-lieu for required street trees (about $400—6 per tree) reflects actual planting and maintenance costs, after staff said contractor planting can cost $750—6 to $1,000; a vote to increase the fee was expected on the agenda but the meeting transcript does not record an outcome.
Concerns about homeowner costs and the adequacy of the city's fee-in-lieu for street trees dominated a Parks and Recreation Committee exchange after the Environmental Advisory Council and sustainability coordinator presentations.
Committee member Cece asked whether a tree can be placed in front of a private property without consent and whether the fee-in-lieu has kept up with planting costs. Veronica, the city's sustainability coordinator, directed members to the shade-tree ordinance for the legal standard and said the city is targeting properties "out of compliance" to offer help and bring them back into conformance. "We reference PennDOT's, and I I don't know" how the exact fee is…
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