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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-05-08-TREE-minLexington Tree Committee Minutes 5.8.2025 Present: Mark Connor (co-chair), Ben Fein -Cole, Gavin Grant, Gerry Paul, Joe Pato (SB), Nancy Sofen, Rachel Summers, Barbara Tarrh, Charlie Wyman The meeting was held via Zoom and was called to order at 7:32 am. 1. Minutes of the 4.25.2025 meeting were approved unanimously. 2. Email responses from Dave Pinsonneault are included in italics. a. Gratitude for Arbor Day -Chris coordinated this project and it was a very good event b. Same for help with 250 trees project - We will provide assistance for this weekend as well c. Any progress With Tree Inventory -Staff has contacted Arbor Pro who is researching the issue. We should hear next week. Our access is working with no issues so it seems to be the public interface. d. Death of street tree 24 Winchester Dr after construction, what can we all learn (bylaw, developer, Tree Comm, town) about preventing -We will have to review this and get back to you - Nancy to send explanatory email to Dave e. Next steps for pocket forest? —1 met with Karen Mullins and we will be able to plant at Lincoln Park. 1 will reconfirm with the Recreation Committee and we should plan for a fall planting. f. You can also let the committee know that we received the DCR Forestry Grant for the urban forest master plan. We are awaiting the paperwork and we can proceed after July 1st. We will also go out to bid for the additional tree canopy work after July 1st. 3. 250 tree project -review First distribution day went well. We distributed 125 trees; the rest will be given this Saturday. Everyone was excited to receive a tree, and many of the saplings were larger and more robust than expected. The committee reiterates its thanks to Forestry and Parks staff for their help with ordering, materials and printing costs, tree delivery and setup, gathering materials (150 buckets of mulch, to be returned by residents for refilling), supplying water for the trees, etc. Some lessons learned: a. Be sure that promotional materials and signup form state clearly this program is for Lexington residents. Just saying "residents" led to several requests to the TC email from residents of other towns. b. Do not rely on LHS students for much help, therefore, ensure enough TC members at pickup events and get fencing well in advance so that there is no time pressure to cut it into sections. Fencing was cut to 28"x48", yielding 72 pieces per 100'x7' roll. c. The system of assembling "kits" of mulch, fence and stake worked well. Tags and planting instructions d. Jotform rejected second signups from a given email address, even when that email was used first to help sign up a neighbor for a tree. Residents were advised to use a different email address, or to send the town their information via email for manual input. e. Nine people originally on the waitlist were able to receive a tree once duplicates (usually two family members independently reserving trees) were screened and notified. Another 3 were accommodated when dogwoods were substituted for failed redbuds, and some declined the substitution. f. There are currently 9 residents on the waitlist for a first tree, and 4 have requested a second or multiple trees. Given the long waitlist and possible snafus with record- keeping, order at least 5 extra trees. Leftovers can be brought to Discovery Day. g. Managing the email queries / wait list requests is cumbersome but seems to require personal attention so there's no need to ask the town to try to automate it. Those email exchanges are also a good opportunity to promote the setback planting program. h. People like being able to plant anywhere in their yards. A handful of people also expressed interest in setback planting at the pickup day and were sent that information via email. 4. The committee unanimously and enthusiastically voted to give away 250 trees again next year, pending DPW approval. The effort generates tremendous goodwill and gets a lot of trees in the ground for a small amount of money. After discussion, it was agreed that 250 is a comfortable number of trees to manage and is consistent with the 2nd year of the 2501h celebration. 5. Planning for Discovery Day. May 24, 10-3 with setup starting at 9. We can use the same display materials as for Sustainability Day, including signups for setback plantings. Barbara, with possible help from Rachel, will create a "Don't cut your trees down" document for display or distribution. There should be something for kids — last year we had a field microscope and leaf rubbing materials. Ask whether Dave will fund printing costs for handouts. Availability to cover table: Rachel on and off (also at LexCAN), Gerry 11-1, Nancy 9-12 and possibly longer, Barbara to email Pat. 6. Planning Board Several hearings were held the previous evening. a. Expansion of parking at 166 Spring St. resulted in lots of tree loss but is not subject to the Tree Bylaw. b. The MBTA Comm. Act. Project at 217-241 Mass. Ave. was approved. The Planning Board waived the Tree Bylaw for the one setback tree to be removed, as there are lots of nice native trees going in; they kept the bylaw for the 16" tilia in the ROW, that will be protected. The Conservation Commission is involved in the rear of the property, it is not known how a future MWRA water main project will impact the sidewalk or replanting. c. An 8 -unit project at 952 Waltham St. application is in early stages and will remove 365 replacement inches of trees. d. There were several applications for zoning freezes. 7. Spring Planting Barbara & Gavin met with Joel and Chris, who would like recommendations for planting sites for both ROW and setbacks. How can we best help / understand what is happening? a. Supplier's redbud crop failed. Not sure what will be substituted. b. Nancy to forward list of resident setback tree requests (mixed with 250th requests to TC email) to Barbara c. Discussion of encouraging DPW use of Jotform, and whether TC should have its own Google Form signup system. The group would prefer to have DPW manage within town's regular systems. (aside from Nancy — if DPW adopts Jotform, first and last names should be separate fields for later ease in using the spreadsheet). d. Discussion of how to promote street and setback tree planting to residents: postcard mailing, insert in tax bill, door hangers distributed by TC members? Mailings are expensive (as much as $71K for printing and mailing and may need DPW program improvement request if spending from Tree Fund not supported) and one-off. Although there are concerns about safety when approaching homes and outreach is more limited to paths traveled by TC members, door hangers are relatively inexpensive and can target those homes with open front spaces. Will need to track where they are distributed. Nancy and Rachel to report next month on cost and design for door hangers and also outreach on social media. Recommendation is that message be simple and clear, with links (including QR code) to updated TC web page for more detailed info. e. Discussion of distribution of trees planted in setbacks vs ROW. i. When planting locations support tree growth, street trees are preferred because they give a more uniform look. Also, after 1 year setback trees become unprotected. Either the planting distribution or the rules (making anything planted by the town a town tree?) should be examined. ii. There is a perception that if there is no sidewalk with a planting strip, DPW should get permission of resident to plant trees in the ROW — but there is currently no mechanism to get this permission except by resident voluntarily requesting a tree. How to address this artificial restriction on street tree planting sites? Work with DPW to implement interpretation of 2024's Article 37, determine if there's any impact beyond the Tree Fund, and if necessary, bring a proposal for policy to the Select Board. A convincing argument was made that the Urban Forest Master Plan process with strong public support for more street trees will be a better vehicle for implementing a change in practices. In the meantime, try concrete actions to find planting sites such as items c and d above. 8. Urban Forest Master Plan It was agreed that we are not yet ready to discuss in detail. Members are encouraged to read plans for Brookline, Cambridge and Bedford and to think about what we want to see in ours. Questions about follow-up on implementing goals. Mark pointed out that shorter -term goals more often result in action. 9. Elementary school trees Three species — dogwood, river birch, pin oak — arrive this week. 10. Our web page Nancy and Barbara to take on as summer project. 11. Granite Forest. Two of three American beeches and several poplars have died, and remaining poplars are planted in wet area and are not thriving. TC members recommended soil testing, bringing in wood chips and adding new trees that are better suited to growing conditions. Red maples would thrive on side with poor drainage. Group admits it moves slowly so Rachel will implement a low-risk approach to grow some new trees quickly. She will donate and plant 10-20 small saplings and see what survives. 12. AOB — update on pocket forest at Lincoln Field. DPW and Conservation have approved the concept for fall planting. Rachel will meet with DPW and Recreation at Lincoln Field to choose a site and would appreciate having someone else attend with her. There will be educational signage.