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Committee to refine tree ordinance; favors counting only trees to be disturbed
Summary
The panel discussed adopting county tree-ordinance language with a change to count only trees that will be disturbed, to avoid an expensive full census and reduce compliance burden.
Members reviewed the draft tree ordinance and raised cost and practicality concerns about requiring a full tree census. Ken Warden said the county ordinance makes more sense and proposed the town adopt it, but limit counting to trees that will be disturbed by development rather than every tree on a parcel. He noted "You don't count the trees in the wetlands" and suggested a narrower, targeted survey.
Committee members asked staff to prepare a redline that mirrors the county approach but clarifies which trees are counted and how mitigation or root-ball treatments are to be handled. The rewrite will also consider exemptions for wetlands and specimen trees and aim to avoid requiring an arborist in every case.
