Photo By Boyd Loving
Ridgewood council hopes to form tree commission in wake of Sandy
FRIDAY DECEMBER 7, 2012, 3:25 PM
BY EVONNE COUTROS
STAFF WRITER
THE RECORD
RIDGEWOOD – The Village Council hopes to establish a shade tree commission early next year that will clarify and define arbor policy in the wake of superstorm Sandy.
“Up until now our Zoning Board, Planning Board, and Building Department really never had a tangible shade tree ordinance” for the village and personal property owners, said Councilwoman Bernadette Walsh.
Walsh, the Ridgewood Environmental Advisory Committee chair, said it is long overdue.
“Most towns have a policy, an ordinance in effect,” Walsh said. “Each town has dealt with it in its own way.” Right now, there is nothing (firm) on the books that require a developer, for example, to replace trees that are taken down, she said.
A shade tree commission — especially in the wake of the outages and difficulties for the utilities from Sandy at the end of October — would define what goes on rights of way. The commission will also address tree ownership and tree replacement options.
