file photo Boyd Loving
Draft tree ordinance in Ridgewood dubbed onerous
WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 26, 2014, 9:18 AM
BY LAURA HERZOG
STAFF WRITER
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
A resolution on Ridgewood shade trees may never take root.
The 10-page, single-spaced draft ordinance on the planting, replacement and preservation of shade trees, which the Village Council referred to the Planning Board for review, was described as “onerous” and likely unnecessary on Tuesday by several Planning Board members and Village Planner Blais Brancheau.
In the draft ordinance, homeowners would be required to obtain permits before removing trees on their properties, which Planning Board Chairman Charles Nalbantian noted may be impossible to enforce.
“Something like this can’t be enforced unless a neighbor complains,” he said, adding that it can create safety issues if a tree expert who wants to remove a tree cannot do so until a permit is obtained. “To restrict people’s ability to manage their property, I think, creates a problem.”
– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/news/247249761_Draft_tree_ordinance_in_Ridgewood_dubbed_onerous.html#sthash.lpc4QowL.dpu
Let me understand this. Its my tree on my property and I need the towns permission to take it down. I can’t believe it.
Back in the US, back in the US, back in the USSR…. that’s for Union of Shade Socialist Ridgewood
Yes, it may be your tree on your property, but YOU are the property of the government, so the government can make you do whatever it wants to make you do. Don’t believe me, go ahead and fight back (even if you “win” it will cost you a fortune in time and money — most people can’t afford that and even fewer can afford to do that more than once). Oh and try resisting (or even publicly disagreeing with) government on the federal level — we have all seen stories of IRS audits, etc., happening to those who forget their place. The sad thing is that because we live relatively comfortable lives, most people simply shrug their shoulders and accept each incrimental loss of freedom. Americans’ freedom is in decline and so is America. Yeah, I know, everyone just shrugged their shoulders.
Not only do you need permission from the town you have to pay them for that permission in the form of a permit.
And you would have to pay for the privilege
Makes sense to me.
The only thing of value left in the village is the pretty trees.
Everything else has gone downhill or is well on its way.
This committee may be well intentioned but poorly timed. We’re not even maintaining the trees we already have.
Maybe if some of the complainers maintained there trees there would be less problems.
One of the proposals was that if you removed a tree, you would be required to replace it or pay up so the town could buy one and plant it somewhere else.
Why should someone be penalized because they have more trees than parts of town where there are none?
Its well intended, but unenforceable and ridiculous.