HomeMy WebLinkAboutAd Hoc Tree By-Law Committee, September 21, 2000 Minutes of Meeting
Ad Hoc Tree By-law Committee
September 21,2000
Present:
Stacey Bridge-Denzak, Chair Betty Eddison
Ginna Johnson Gerd Whiting
Nell Walker Matthew Foti
Kathy Yates Brian Gilbert
John Frey,Scribe Georgia Glick, Guest
Chair Stacey Bridge-Denzak called the meeting to order at 9.10 AM. She assigned scribes to take
meeting notes as follows:
September 21 John Frey
October 5 Patrick Mehr
October 19 Nell Walker
November 2 Susan Solomon
November 16 James Wood
The meeting notes of the September 7,2000 meeting were reviewed and approved by the
Committee.
Kathie Yates asked about the status of members Jerry Moloney and Bebe Fallick,who have not
attended meetings to date. Stacey Bridge-Denzak said that she had not been able to talk to Jerry
and that Bebe had been sick.
Nell Walker stressed that community informational meetings should start soon.
Subcommittee Reports:
Implementation/Education Subcommittee:
Subcommittee Chair John Frey gave a quick overview of progress.He stated that Nell
Walker had received Newton Tree Manual and that he would have the Selectmen's office
make six copies for the subcommittee members to use as a model for preparing a tree
manual for Lexington. It was agreed that copies would not be sent to the Policy
subcommittee members. Ginna Johnson said she would fax more manual information to
John. Manual should state the minimum requirements.
The subcommittee has prepared a first draft list of 22 Lexington organizations with contact
persons to be used for public outreach. It was agreed by all present that an article in the
Minuteman (Op Ed?) should be published as soon as possible to explain what we are
doing. Ginna will prepare first draft of the article and send to Nell and Stacey Resulting
draft of the article will be reviewed at the general committee meeting October 5,2000.
The Subcommittee discussed Funding,but needs more info on Policy For example,if
there is a permitting process in place with fees,this could be a source of funding for more
tree planting and also for cost of new tree warden(certified arborist) or a volunteer tree
commission to inspect or police. Other funding could come from state grants,Lexington
trust funds and Town appropriations.
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Nell Walker distributed two drafts of a Statement of Purpose for the Tree By-law and a
short review of various legal aspects of restricting property rights,quoting parts of the 5th
Amendment of the Constitution,a SC case of Village of Euclid vs.Ambler and Christopher
Stone's essay which proposes that we should give legal rights to forests,oceans,rivers
and other so-called natural objects in the environment.
Policy Subcommittee:
Subcommittee Chair Stacey Bridge-Denzak stated that the subcommittee liked the
framework of the Newton Tree Ordinance and decided to use it as an outline,but to
incorporate public tree regulations into it. They decided that the by-law should control (1)
any development that goes to the planning board,(2) teardowns and(3)additions to houses
that exceed 50% of their size(footprint). Ginna Johnson felt that increasing impervious
paving should be another factor that triggers a requirement for a permit.
All trees 8 inches or greater in diameter at breast height(DBH) would be protected. If a
permit is granted to cut down such a tree,the developer would have to plant a tree(s)of
equal value or canopy or pay into a Tree Fund.
Several members felt that we should present a more restrictive by-law to the public
informational meetings and then back off some if we have to. Others felt that we should
start less restrictive and then strengthen it later if we can build support for it. The public
meetings should be before December 1,2000.
The Policy Subcommittee plans to edit the Newton ordinance into a first draft by-law by the
October 5,2000 committee meeting.
John Frey agreed to fax Gerri Whiting's draft of a Mission Statement to Ginna and Nell.
Meeting adjourned 9:30 AM
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