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Select Board continues hearing on removal of two white oaks at 122 Jericho Path to June 8
Summary
An applicant sought removal of two white oaks to accommodate a driveway; the tree warden recommended saving the larger tree and removing the smaller 15-inch oak. Neighbors urged preservation of older trees; the board continued the hearing to June 8 for a revised site plan.
At a public hearing Monday evening, the Select Board considered a petition to remove two white oaks at 122 Jericho Path to allow construction of a driveway. The town’s tree warden recommended allowing removal of only the smaller 15-inch oak and requiring replacement plantings. The applicant, Chris Reimer, speaking for the property owner and builder, said the two trees sit at the driveway entrance and present safety and maneuvering concerns; he said the project proposes planting more trees and shrubs than those removed.
Neighbors and conservation-minded residents urged the board to preserve the older, larger oak. Sandy Stowes, a longtime nearby resident, told the board the trees are at least 60 years old and that new saplings will not replace mature canopy value in a lifetime: "They’re at least 60 years old ... the replantings sound great, but they’re small and they often die because they're not cared for," Stowes said. Board members asked the applicant to attempt a reconfiguration that would save the larger tree and requested a revised site plan showing alternatives. The board voted to continue the hearing to June 8 to allow the applicant time to submit an updated plan and supporting drawings.
The tree-warden recommendation included planting a minimum of five replacement trees as a replacement-value requirement; the applicant said his proposed mitigation well exceeds that level.
