Survey Comments submitted by Town Meeting Members
Street Trees
Removal Notices
- 8 respondents said that no notice given before removal
- 1 respondent said that a notice allowed residents to save tree
- only 3 of 83 respondents saw a notice on the tree, 2 in Advocate (is notice required by law?)
Other reasons for removal
- Storm damage - 4 respondents
- 4 trees removed with no apparent reason, none planted
- sidewalk "improvement"
- "A resident who felt like it"
Types of trees planted by the Town
- Many not sure of the number and/or the species - more than 60 trees planted. Most reported maples.
- Maples
- Ash
- Oak
Trees on residential lot
Other reasons for removal
- Too many young trees
- Interferred with power lines
- Gave squirrels access to roof
- Too close to house
- Storm damage
- Grew into garage
- "Weed tree"
- "Invasives"
- No room to grow
- Too many hemlocks
Other reasons for trimming
- Grew into house
- Crowding other trees
- Tree health
- Hitting house
- Needed pruning
- Damaging garage
- Storm damage
- Promote health of tree
- Maintenance
- Branches hitting house
- Keep tree manageable height
- Pear tree pruned for yield
- Interferred with wires
- Aesthetics
- Too close to house
- Hitting roof
- Squirrels getting into house
- Neighbor trimmed tree on boarder
Types of trees planted
- Valley forge elm
- Dogwood
- Cherry
- Apple
- Japanese red maple
- Lilac
- Redbud
- White oak
- Chinaberry
- Pear
- Silver maple
- "Ornamental"
- Pines
- Rose
- Blue spruce
What else might be useful
- Laws about planting on public property
- Don't need this information from Town
- Is already online
- Many not filled in - does this mean they are not interested in web site?
Trees in Arlington
Other work needed
- Control invasive vines
- Stop dumping of debre at Reeds Brook
Pros and cons of trees
Other pros
- Good for climbing
- Borderless fences
- Free mulch
- Privacy
- Shade
- Children use for play
- Block view of nearby buildings
Other cons
- Roots damage sidewalks
- Interfere with utility lines
- Roots damage water pipes
- Create sidewalks hazard
- Crowd out smaller trees
- Norway maples are aggressive, too much shade precludes gardens
- Provide kindling wood
- Block sun, so increase cost of lighting
- Trees do not reduce noise
- Too much shade limits gardens
- Roots clog sewers
Should Arlington consider a tree protection bylaw?
Comments
- Current State bylaw is not enforced, so why have another?
- How will it be enforced? Don't waste time working on a law that won't be enforced
- I don't see the point of a bylaw
- We don't need any new tree bylaws (from 7 respondents)
- Don't think Town should get involved with tree laws
- Stop NSTAR from cutting trees
- Private trees are private
- Start small thru education, then make resources available to citizens
- Prevent what happened in Lexington Center
- Better notification to public for tree removal, time and mechanism for public input
- Educate community to value of trees
- Keep track of public trees
- Promote timely replacement of damaged and diseased trees
- The survey question are slanted to produce incorrect perceptions - it seems an attempt to ? an incorrect view
- License arborists so residents don't get scammed
- Should not consider a bylaw if it places any controls on private land
- Private land is owners responsibility
- Yes - need bylaw
Ideas
- Create Town Tree Day
- NSTAR interferes with tree growth
- Trim trees along Mystic Valley Pkwy
- Education
- Bundle tree purchases for residents
- Obtain funds to assist property owners to maintain important trees
- Institute a spraying/fertilizing program
- Remove invasive species
- Too many Norway maples - celebrate diversity
- Very interested in maintaining and growing trees - Bob Tosi 781-XXX-XXXX
- Dissatisfied with Town's management of public tress
- Public trees urgently need pruning and replacement
- Reduce sidewalk width around trees
- There is a large tree that has buckled the sidewalk resulting in a dangerous situation; I have been unable to get the Town to address the problem, even when I offered to pay the total cost
- Stop planting Norway maples - too brittle, shed blossoms, leaves, roots destroy sidewalks (Falmouth stopped planting)
- Provide a class on how to care for trees (maybe nursery would provide instructors)
- Residents have illegally planted shrubs on public land (curbside strip)