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Tree committee plans Arbor Day planting and outreach as Complete Streets concerns mount
Summary
The Woodstock Tree Committee outlined an Arbor Day planting site, an Earth Week tree walk and a public-awareness campaign to protect street trees while pressing for alterations to a proposed Complete Streets plan they say threatens tree loss.
The Woodstock Tree Committee discussed plans for Arbor Day, Earth Week and a neighborhood outreach campaign to highlight concerns about tree loss tied to a proposed Complete Streets project.
Members proposed planting a large shade tree behind the gazebo (near a stone wall) and said they would visit Catsville Native Nursery when it’s time to select species; one member mentioned preferring a pink horse chestnut (non-native) but said they would consider native alternatives. The committee also tentatively scheduled a tree walk for April 19 to showcase iconic village trees and identify sites for protection.
The group discussed bringing a Kingston official (identified as Brent, the city of Kingston tree warden) or other arborists to the walk. Members referenced a workshop shared by Cindy Muro that showed alternative soil and planting methods (a DeepRoot approach) and said those techniques could support healthier street trees than the town’s conventional, sand-based tree pits.
Committee members also discussed outreach tactics: staged lawn signs and ribbons to raise awareness, a dedicated web page explaining the campaign, and a plan to mail flyers to residents along Route 212. One member said insurance companies have been telling homeowners to remove large trees near houses, an issue the committee hopes to address through education and protective advocacy.
Separately, members said they will again ask the supervisor for a $5,000 budget item to fund a street-tree survey to document condition and maintenance needs, and they pressed for adoption of an amended town tree law that would lower the protected-diameter threshold from 4 inches to 3 inches to protect more trees.
The committee closed the meeting after accepting the previous month’s minutes by voice; members said they will finalize planting plans and follow up after meeting with the supervisor about the Complete Streets resolution.
