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Planning board continues Scarsdale Road tree hearing after neighbors object; applicant to return with revised plan
Summary
Board continued the request to remove five eastern red cedars on Scarsdale Road to Jan. 12, 2026, after neighbors and board members urged alternatives including transplanting trees or revising driveway alignment; the tree warden's input and a neighbor letter triggered the select board notification step if objections remain.
The Dennis Planning Board continued a tree‑removal hearing for 46 Scarsdale Road to Jan. 12, 2026, asking the applicant to return with a revised plan that explores transplanting mature trees, shifting driveway alignment or reducing the number of trees removed.
Thomas Moore, representing the property owner, requested removal of five eastern red cedars in the public right‑of‑way to accommodate a new driveway for a proposed replacement house, saying the owners prefer a separate driveway rather than a shared access. Planning staff noted that Scarsdale Road is a designated scenic road and that Mass. Gen. Laws Chapter 87 requires hearings for public trees; the town received a written objection from an abutter before the hearing closed.
Annie Walker, a nearby resident, read a written objection on behalf of neighbors, saying the cedars are roughly 50 years old and contribute to the historic character of the road; she questioned whether replacement with small saplings would preserve the aesthetic value. A planning board member with landscape experience suggested transplanting up to three trees rather than removing them; other board members urged the applicant to consult the tree warden and neighboring property owners before returning.
Paul (planning staff) advised that, because a written objection had been filed, the removal would require a subsequent select board hearing unless the objector withdraws the objection after seeing a revised plan.
The board voted to continue the tree hearing (TRSR‑25‑2 for 46 Scarsdale Road) to Jan. 12, 2026, to allow the applicant to submit a revised plan and to consult with the tree warden and neighbors.
