HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-08-11-TREE-rpt2 August 7, 2022
Compliance with
Select Board Determination on Tree Hearing
for 223 Grove Street
Summary
The Select Board discussed the requested removal of public shade trees in the right -of-way at
223 Grove St. at length on December 17, 2018 and then on January 7, 2019 made the
determination that:
• 13 trees were to be planted on the development itself
• 13 trees were to be planted in the right-of-way on streets in the neighborhood.
Despite queries (see below) over the last two years, 3 ½ years later the latter requirement that
13 trees be planted in the neighborhood appears to not have been enforced. At this point it is
not clear what recourse the Town has to see that these trees are planted .
TimeLine/Details
• From Jan. 7, 2019 Select Board Hearing:
Determination on Tree Hearing for 223 Grove Street
Dave Pinsonnault, DPW Director, and Chris Filadoro, Tree Warden, reported that an
agreement has been reached with the owner/developer of 223 Grove Street to replant trees as
indicated by the Tree Bylaw. The developer will replace 10 removed trees with 26 3- inch
caliper trees with a selection of species listed in the Large Shade Tree catalogue. 13 of the
trees will be planted on or near 223 Grove Street property; the other 13 will be planted in the
Town right of way in the Grove Street/Turning Mill area. The developer will water and
maintain the trees and provide the Town with a warrantee for one year. The Tree Committee
has submitted a letter expressing satisfaction with the terms of the agreement.
Upon motion duly made and seconded, the Board of Selectmen voted 4- 0 to adopt the
Superintendent of Public Grounds/ Tree Warden's recommendation on mitigation on the tree
hearing related to Liberty Ridge Development as per the attached memorandum dated 12-
24- 18.
• On October 20,2020, the Tree Warden responded to a question about the planting:
From: Christopher Filadoro <cfiladoro@lexingtonma.gov>
Date: Tue, Oct 20, 2020 at 12:45 PM
Subject: Re: 223 Grove St
To: Gerald Paul <gerryp@bu.edu>
August 7, 2022
Cc: Nancy Sofen <nsofen@gmail.com>, Marc Valenti <mvalenti@lexingtonma.gov>
Hi Gerry
The [sic] reviewed and inspected the 13 trees that were planted on the site, I will review the
other trees once they are planted in the new locations.
Thanks
Chris
• From November 11, 2020 Minutes
. . . Chris indicated that the builder of the Grove St. development has not yet planted the
required 30 [sic] trees on streets near the development. He is still in the process of
identifying planting locations.
• In October 2021 the DPW Director responded to a request for a status of the planting
through the Select Board Office:
From: Select Board <selectboard@lexingtonma.gov>
Date: Fri, Oct 1, 2021 at 9:53 AM
Subject: FW: Tree plantings required by a Select Board Tree Determination Hearing
To: Gerald Paul <gerryp@bu.edu>
Good morning, Gerry,
I have heard back from the DPW regarding the trees on Grove Street and here is the information
they had provided:
• 13 additional trees were planted on the property.
• The remaining 13 trees need to have locations determined. The original mark outs
were not suitable due to gas lines underground. The locations will be determined this fall
and either planted this fall or in the spring. Chris will coordinate with the contractor.
If you have any further questions, please let me know.
Thank you,
Stacey
In point of fact, the planting locations which were determined not to be suitable because of gas lines
were along Grove St and were I chosen originally as planting locations for trees to be planted by the
DPW as part of the fall 2019 planting. From July 9, 2020 Minutes:
3. Dave Pinsonneault updated us on DPW activity
• Fall 2019 planting: Last fall 70 trees were planted. There were some trees slated for Grove
St which could not be planted there due to unexpected utility lines, etc. but other locations
August 7, 2022
were found for these trees. Dave indicated that Chris will provide an updated list of planting
locations.