HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-04-02-TREE-minLexington Tree Committee -Working session of Regulations Subcommittee
Minutes April 2,2024 1:00 pm via Zoom
Present:Barbara Tarrh,Tim Lee,Gavin Grant,Rachel Summers,Nancy Sofen.Guest:Charles
Hornig.A quorum of the Tree Committee was not present.
1.We will plan to meet weekly at this time.Nancy will post the meeting as a public Tree
Committee meeting,so that a quorum of the TC may attend.
2.The intent of this overhaul of existing regulations /creation of new regulations is to
create a single document that becomes an appendix of the Tree Management Manual
(TMM),containing all regulations that apply to the Tree Bylaw.
3.There are many tree lists currently in the TMM,with different purposes.Most are simply
informational,while the Large Shade Tree List (V.B.5)lists those trees given 4x
mitigation credit.All are outdated -for example,“native”refers to trees native to North
America,not to New England.Some trees on the lists would now not be recommended
because of new pests or diseases,or new information about their invasiveness..Our
first task is to review the Large Shade Tree List.For convenience,this list has been
broken out into its own document in the Google Drive..
4.We agreed that to qualify for the Large Shade Tree List,a tree must be
a.Over 40’tall and at least 30’wide at maturity
b.Preference for New England natives,or native to Eastern US and included to
compensate for some quality that the list of NE natives does not adequately
supply
c.Cultivars are OK if they meet basic criteria,but not narrow columnars
d.Spaced at planting consistent with guidelines in regulations (minimum 15’apart,
may be more depending on species).
5.We reviewed the existing list and used the above criteria to make changes noted
(additions in red,deletions struck through.).Many valuable native shade trees had been
previously excluded because they are hosts to Asian Longhorned Beetle;we decided to
expand the list to include them.
6.For next meeting,do more research to help decide whether to add these or other trees.
a.Barbara:London Plane
b.Will there be arborvitae confusion if we add Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus
virginiana)?Is this large tree too narrow?(Morton Arboretum says 15-20’)
c.River birch?Morton Arboretum lists mature height 30-40’
d.Elm is too susceptible to storm damage for 4x list.
e.Black walnut -native,large,messy and toxic to other plants
f.Celtis -midwest native,fast-growing,susceptible to ice damage?
g.Revisit removal of Kentucky coffeetree.It can be large and picturesque,
according to Dirr.But pods and seeds are poisonous.Does this midwest native
offer anything special?
7.Nancy to invite Matt Foti to the April 16 meeting (Invitation sent,no response yet.).
8.Next meeting Tuesday,April 9 at 1 pm via Zoom:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81700452743?pwd=b3FYbXJHQ3RWc3BDYkVXdUpnS0NnUT09