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Emerson council raises per-tree developer fee to $250
Summary
The council voted to raise the Shade Tree Commission's developer fee from $150 to $250 per removed tree, citing rising planting costs; the ordinance change was approved by roll call.
Emerson's governing body voted on March 4 to increase the fee developers pay per replaced or removed tree from $150 to $250 and to amend the borough ordinance to reflect the change.
Rob Hermanson, the borough administrator, told the council the Shade Tree Commission had recommended the increase because the current $150 fee does not cover rising planting and procurement costs. "Right now, they're charging a $150 per tree, which they said is way below the cost that they're paying in order to install and get the trees," Hermanson said during the discussion.
Council members asked whether the Department of Public Works would handle planting; Hermanson said DPW performs the planting when arranged through the commission. The charge applies when developers remove trees during redevelopment and the payment is deposited into the tree-planting fund.
The council moved and approved the increase by roll call; the clerk recorded the passage as unanimous. Members indicated the change will require an ordinance update to conform fee schedules with current costs.
The council did not specify an effective date for the ordinance update at the meeting; the change was approved in principle and will be reflected in the formal ordinance drafting and readings to follow.
