Tree committee votes to pursue Broad Street planting plan; Brian to draft species list and search grants

The Bridgewater Tree Committee voted unanimously to pursue a targeted planting plan for Broad Street and charged committee member Brian with producing a tree list and planting proposal by the next meeting. The plan will be presented for review, coordinated with planning staff to avoid conflicts with active development mitigation, and used to seek grant funding where applicable.

Members discussed potential planting sites, including gaps along Broad Street where several trees are missing, and a separate brick area in front of Walgreens that may be converted into a concrete slab during streetscape work. "We should know what they're planning specifically," one member said of developers; the committee agreed plantings must be coordinated so trees are not installed where construction will remove them.

Brian recommended silver linden as a replacement species for the beach trees—chosen for street characteristics and reduced sucker growth—and estimated nursery pricing at roughly $360 per B&B specimen. Members raised concerns about crowding on the common if all replacements are planted at once and suggested a phased approach (three this fall, three next year) and stakeholder engagement with the BIA, the historic commission and Mary McGrath's subcommittee to protect historic character.

The committee also agreed Brian will check with planning staff and Shane for existing conditions or mapping that could be used to illustrate proposed planting locations. Members recommended preparing an illustrative map (GIS or aerial markup) to show proposed tree locations ahead of outreach and grant applications.

Next steps: Brian will bring a Broad Street proposal, tree list and potential grant targets to the August meeting; Josh and committee volunteers will seek mapping resources and confirm whether mitigation requirements in pending development approvals already cover tree plantings.