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Committee approves removal of decayed tree at 270 South Street
Summary
The Trees and Public Greenery Committee voted Aug. 12 to remove a large tree at 270 South Street after staff and a third-party review found heavy pruning, internal rot and prior branch failure posed a safety risk; the motion passed unanimously.
The Portsmouth Trees and Public Greenery Committee voted unanimously on Aug. 12 to remove a large street tree at 270 South Street after staff described structural defects and internal rot.
Liz McKinley, who joined the meeting by Zoom, said the tree had been "pruned pretty heavily, so it was lion tailed," leaving no interior branches and creating a sail effect in wind. She told the committee she found "significant rot" in branches and noted a prior branch failure; based on the condition and the tree's proximity to a nearby building she recommended removal before winter storms.
Max (agency staff) described a mid-June microburst that knocked out a central leader and struck a roof, saying the remaining leader on the tree was "sized comparably" to the fallen piece and that several other nearby limbs showed signs likely to fail. After discussion, a committee member moved to remove the tree and the chair called for a vote; members responded "Aye," and the motion carried.
The committee gave staff direction to proceed with the removal and thanked McKinley for preparing the third-party review. The committee recorded no additional conditions on the removal.
