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Committee conditionally approves developer request to prune oaks during growing season pending adjacent‑owner permission
Summary
The committee accepted staff recommendation to permit growing‑season pruning of two oak trees at 6300 University Ave. if the developer obtains permission from adjacent property owners and follows arborist oak‑wilt mitigation steps; the city forester noted the municipal code’s growing‑season prohibition ends Aug. 1.
The Middleton Parks, Recreation & Forestry Committee recommended approval for a developer’s request to prune two oak trees on property adjacent to a development at 6300 University Avenue, provided the applicant secures permission from the adjacent property owners and follows arborist mitigation steps.
Tony Brown, City Forester, explained the city ordinance prohibits pruning of oaks during the growing season and that the growing‑season restriction ends on Aug. 1. "Our ordinance prohibits pruning of oaks during what I would call a growing season. That period ends on August 1," Brown said. He told members the developer supplied a project‑arborist report describing wound‑painting and other steps to reduce oak‑wilt risk.
Committee discussion focused on whether written permission from adjacent owners had been provided; staff said they had notified the addresses and spoken in person with at least one owner but had not yet received formal proof of permission. Alderman Nelson moved to accept the staff recommendation to approve pruning to the forester provided the applicant obtains adjacent‑owner permission; the motion passed.
The approval is conditional: the permit will be issued by the city forester only after staff receive documentation of adjacent‑owner consent and confirm the arborist’s mitigation measures. The decision advances the developer’s construction schedule while retaining a protective requirement that staff said is intended to limit oak‑wilt risk and uphold municipal protections for oaks.
