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Stone Harbor council reviews DEP‑approved dune vegetation project to remove invasive pines at 122nd Street
Summary
Councilmembers heard a proposal Wednesday to remove about 30 invasive Japanese black pines at the 122nd Street beachfront and replace them with more than 150 native plants; the property owner would fund the DEP‑approved project and a memorandum of agreement will be requested on the next agenda.
Mayor Timothy J. Carney and council members heard a presentation Wednesday on a DEP‑approved dune restoration project for beachfront property at 122nd Street.
Aaron Baker, a senior consultant with Lomax Consulting Group, told the Borough Council the proposal targets invasive Japanese black pines that "outcompete the native vegetation" and are being killed by the southern pine beetle. Baker said the project would remove roughly 30 mature trees and replant more than 150 native shrubs and dune plants, and that the work would extend across the adjacent public parking lot to protect the entire area.
"This is a large project that expands to the public parking lot on 122nd Street," Baker said, adding he would oversee the work on behalf of the Borough if approved. He told council the property owner has agreed to pay for the entire project if Council authorizes it.
Councilmember Robin Casper introduced the item during the Natural Resources report and provided local bird‑species counts and other environmental context before the presentation. Baker said the dune vegetation management plan has been approved by the DEP and that the next procedural step would be a resolution authorizing a memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the Borough and the property owner; he asked Council to place that resolution on the next agenda.
Mayor Carney and council members thanked the presenter. No final authorization was taken at the work session; Council will consider the requested resolution and MOA at a future meeting.
Background and next steps: the consultant described the southern pine beetle as a fast‑acting pest that can kill trees within months and said removing the invasive pines and replanting natives is intended to restore dune ecology and protect public property. The borough clerk or staff will add the resolution request to the upcoming agenda for formal consideration.
