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Woodcliff Lake council adopts shade-tree and streets-code amendments after public questions about homeowner costs
Summary
The Woodcliff Lake Borough Council unanimously adopted Ordinances 25-01 and 25-02 to align older and newer code language for the Shade Tree Committee and streets/sidewalks. Residents pressed the council for clarity about whether maintenance and insect-treatment costs for street trees would fall to homeowners; the mayor said the changes correct inconsistencies and are not intended to create new obligations.
The Woodcliff Lake Borough Council on a unanimous roll call adopted Ordinance 25-01, amending Chapter 70 (Shade Tree Committee), and Ordinance 25-02, amending Chapter 2326 (Streets and Sidewalks), after a public hearing and extended comment from residents and the Shade Tree Committee.
Councilwoman Brodsky said the purpose of the ordinances is to align wording between an original Chapter 70 (1963) and a 2020 revision so "the wording is being amended so the two are in line with each other." The mayor and several council members told residents the changes are intended as housekeeping to correct inconsistencies, not to create new policy or transfer responsibilities that did not already exist.
During the public hearing, residents and the Shade Tree Committee chair asked for clarity about who must pay to maintain or remove trees that stand in the right-of-way, and how emerald ash borer treatment would be handled. One commenter said a homeowner was "very upset" about being required to have a street tree removed and concerned about replacement rules and cost. The Shade Tree Committee chair explained the long-standing local practice that the borough plants trees in the right-of-way but that, by borough practice and a homeowner form referenced by council, homeowners accept responsibility for watering and maintenance after planting.
The mayor said the codified language reflects the 2020 ordinance's allocation of responsibilities and that the current motion "is not new it's not a shift it's just to correct the inconsistency." He also committed to obtaining contractor quotations for treating trees (including potential emerald ash borer mitigation) and to share that information with the borough administrator so council can consider whether to provide additional support to residents.
Council members noted specifics raised by the public: the borough previously paid for insecticide application only for trees in the right-of-way; eight trees identified as dangerous during the tree inventory had been flagged and affected homeowners were notified; permits are required for removal under current town rules; and at least one resident raised a replacement requirement applying to removals. Councilwoman Brodsky reiterated that the ordinances change wording for consistency and do not replace the town's established practices for planting or prior forms homeowners sign when accepting planted trees.
Ordinance 25-01 (Shade Tree Committee) and Ordinance 25-02 (Streets & Sidewalks) were adopted by roll call (all voting yes). The council indicated it would review contractor estimates brought forward by the mayor and administrator and consider options—such as continuing limited town treatment of right-of-way trees or creating a publicly available price list—before making further policy changes.
The council closed the public hearing and moved on to other business.
