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Residents press council to act on tree loss and stormwater; calls for building-code forum and more transparent lot-coverage data
Summary
Tree supervisor Paula Goldberg warned the council that new large homes and underground stormwater tanks reduce canopy and worsen runoff; residents asked for lot-coverage calculations in packets, stronger code enforcement and a community forum to inform potential building-code changes.
Paula Goldberg, the village tree supervisor, told the council she is ‘‘really concerned that there are fewer trees on lots with new houses’’ and linked large home footprints and underground stormwater retention systems to the loss of mature canopy and worsening stormwater problems in low‑lying areas of the village.
Why it matters: Residents said current permit packets do not always make lot‑coverage calculations available, leaving neighbors without the data to evaluate whether proposed construction meets village rules. Several council members and residents urged a community forum and procedural changes so residents have time to review proposed code changes and variance materials before votes.
Paula said that underground retention tanks, used to mitigate runoff, can occupy subsurface space that prevents large trees from being planted and thriving. She recommended the village consider limits on impermeable surfaces and to explore conservation or reforestation opportunities in public spaces. She also announced an Arbor Day celebration planned for April 10 as part of the village’s native‑tree program.
Marty (resident and council member) and others raised procedural fixes: include lot‑coverage calculation sheets in hearing packets, add a checklist for variance hearings, and expand the information on same‑side house heights in future packets so neighbors can better assess the effect of new builds. Jean suggested auditing recent projects to confirm whether submitted plans and confirmation forms match what was actually built.
What’s next: Council members said the stormwater task force will present a formal report and recommendations at the April meeting and that the upcoming budget includes capital funds and program lines to support stormwater and tree‑planting initiatives. Several council members supported holding one or more community forums if resident interest justifies them.
