The following opinion piece about a proposed bylaw was submitted by Mary Ellen Aronow and Eliza Burden, co-chairs, Arlington Tree Committee.
Following complaints by town residents about clear-cutting lots during development, the Arlington Tree Committee collaborated with key stakeholders in town and voted to draft a bylaw. Using parts of tree bylaws from other towns as a starting point, rewritten with input from Arlington town officials and further refined with feedback from local developers, the result is Article 22, Tree Preservation Bylaw.
The proposed bylaw strikes a balance between the needs of the community, the work load of stretched town departments and the business of builders in Arlington. This article is consistent with Arlington’s master plan, with the stated goals, “Value, protect, and enhance the physical beauty and natural resources of Arlington” and demonstrates in its implementation recommendations that mature trees on private property are valuable to the town.
On April 11 the Board of Selectmen voted unanimously to support Article 22. Now we are seeking Town Meeting’s support for this bylaw, which will help protect Arlington’s lush and beautiful tree canopy while respecting the needs of homeowners and builders.
The proposed Tree Preservation Bylaw applies only to mature trees within a property’s legal setback during major construction projects, such as demolition, building a new house or building an addition that increases the house footprint by 50 percent or more. The bylaw will not affect a homeowner’s right to prune, remove or replace trees on their private property at any other time. The bylaw requires that removal of a mature tree in the setback be mitigated by replacing a tree on the property or paying into the town’s tree fund to be used to plant a replacement tree in the vicinity of the removal or elsewhere in the town.
Arlington’s trees are treasures that deserve protection. Trees contribute to the character and aesthetic appearance of our town. Trees improve air quality, protect us from heat and glare, reduce noise pollution, limit topsoil erosion and storm water runoff, provide natural flood control, enhance property values and contribute to the distinct character of neighborhoods, while offering natural privacy to neighbors. Trees shelter birds and other wildlife and connect us to the seasons of the year.
The Arlington Tree Committee urges you to ask your Town Meeting members to vote yes on Article 22. You can find your Town Meeting members and their contact information on the town’s website >>
Visit www.arlingtontrees.org for more information on Article 22, the Tree Preservation Bylaw.
This appeal was published Tuesday, April 19, 2016.
