Tree Law put on hold, sent for redrafting

March 8, 2010 REPRINTED March 12
by New Castle Town Supervisor Barbara Gerrard

I wish to let residents know that the Town Board [did] not [vote] on the Proposed Tree Preservation Law this [past] Tuesday, March 9.  Many comments have been received and we are continuing to receive more.  In order to give due consideration to the issues raised, we will close the Public Hearing and have the proposed statute revised to address various concerns.

Just so there is no further misunderstanding, neither the existing Tree Ordinance, nor the proposed language, would have required any resident to apply or pay for a permit to remove the many, many trees that were damaged or have become a threat due to the recent storm.  Any tree that is a danger to residents or property can be removed immediately without Town involvement.  And of course a dead tree may also be removed at any time.

Our purpose in attempting to tighten regulations is to preserve the beauty, privacy, and property values of our community.  Once trees are gone, they are gone.  It will only be months from now when we will be able to assess the tremendous damage to our natural beauty this storm has wrought. 

Nonetheless, given the concerns raised to the language as presently proposed, the Town Board will not take a vote, and instead submit it back to the Conservation Board for re-drafting.  Be assured that all comments made to the present language will be preserved as part of the record as we go forward.

Gerrard can be reached at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). 

To read commentary from previous issues—including Supervisor Gerrard’s explanation of the amendments—click HERE.

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