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Homeowner proposes removing 13 pitch pines for vista management; commissioners ask for narrower corridor and stable plantings
Summary
At the June 4 meeting the commission continued a proposal for a driveway expansion and vegetation management at 36 Whistler Lane that would remove 13 pitch pines and add native shrubs; commissioners asked for a narrower 'vista' corridor, erosion-control measures and a removal protocol for a large pine on a coastal bank.
Matt Farrell of J.M. O'Reilly and Associates and Teresa Sprague of Blue Flax Design presented a vegetation-management and driveway-expansion plan for 36 Whistler Lane that would remove a set of diseased or hazardous trees and plant native shrubs. The proposal included removing 13 pitch pines identified as diseased or leaning and replacing canopy with 12 understory shrubs and three small white oaks.
Sprague said the clearing was prompted by insurance concerns and the homeowner’s arborist, and described plantings that would restore understory species. "We flagged the 20 inches pine on the Coastal Bank... due to the fact that we felt that it the bank is unstable or it's eroding at the toe of the bank," she said, explaining a proposal to flush-cut a leaning pine while leaving roots to stabilize the slope.
Commissioners questioned removing trees that help stabilize the bank and urged minimizing disturbance. Several members recommended limiting a vista corridor to pockets rather than opening the entire deck line, adding jute matting and a split-rail boundary to protect plantings during establishment, and specifying a removal protocol that minimizes erosion when taking down large trees. The commission continued the item to June 25 so applicants can revise plans to narrower vista windows, clarify planting locations and incorporate erosion-control measures.
The commission expressed general willingness to approve a revised plan that narrows the vista corridor, includes planting and bank stabilization details, and defines a safe removal protocol for large trees on the bank.
