Survey distributed to the 2004 Town Meeting Members
Arlington Tree Survey
Dear Town Meeting Member:
Last Spring, Town Meeting formed a Tree Committee to explore whether Arlington needed a bylaw to preserve and protect shade trees on public and private property within the town. We began meeting in January, and feel that it would be premature to propose a bylaw at this point. Our top priority at this point is gathering information about:
- Public satisfaction with management of public shade trees.
- Management of residential trees, and resources and materials that would be useful for property owners.
- Perceptions of Arlington's community forest (street trees, trees in parks and on school grounds, trees on private lots) and attitudes toward bylaws that would protect large or notable trees.
Please complete this survey as soon as possible and place it in the "Tree Survey" boxes at the back of the hall by Monday, May 3. Town meeting members represent a broad cross-section of Arlington residents from all parts of town, and your answers will help determine our future direction and educational activities. Thank you for your cooperation.
Walter Phillips Patricia Thomas, Chair
Clarissa Rowe Bill Jones, Town Tree Warden
Edward Trembly
Basic information about you:
Check the school district where you live:
___Bishop
___Brackett
___Thompson
___Pierce
___Stratton
___Dallin
___Hardy
Indicate type of housing:
___single family home ___own ___rent
___multi-family home ___own ___rent
___condominium ___own ___rent
___apartment ___own ___rent
Name of street where you live: __________________________
"Street trees" growing within the boundaries of public ways:
Chapter 87 of the General Laws of Massachusetts regulates the trimming, removal, and planting of these trees. The law says that these trees can be trimmed or removed only by the Tree Warden or his deputies, and then only after a public hearing. If there are objections to cutting down the tree, the Board of Selectmen must weigh these and decide whether to approve the tree's removal.
In the past two years, have public shade trees on your street been:
___removed
___trimmed
___planted
If one or more public shade trees were removed by Arlington Department of Public Works, do you remember seeing a hearing notice posted in advance:
___on the tree
___on the Town Hall bulletin board
___in the Advocate
Would it be helpful if tree hearings were posted on the town website?
___yes
___no
If public shade trees were removed, the reason was
___tree was dead
___tree was diseased
___adjacent property owner requested removal
___tree interfered public works project, such as repaving
or sidewalk construction
___don't know
If public shade trees were trimmed, the work was done by:
___Arlington Department of Public Works
___NStar or other private company
Have you (or someone hired by you) ever trimmed or removed a public shade tree?
___yes
___no
If the Town planted new or replacement trees on your street,
___how many?
___what type? (please specify) ____________________
___don't know
Have you planted new or replacement trees in the curb strip adjacent to your property?
___yes
___no
Trees on your residential lot:
In the past two years, have trees on your property been
___removed
___trimmed
___planted
If one or more trees were removed, the reason was
___tree was dead
___tree was diseased
___leaf removal was burdensome/expensive
___tree interfered with demolition/construction
___shade interfered with lawn/garden
___neighbor complained
___other __________________
Did you
___do the work yourself
___hire a certified arborist
___hire someone else
If one or more trees were trimmed, the reason was
___tree was dead
___tree was diseased
___leaf removal was burdensome/expensive
___tree interfered with demolition/construction
___shade interfered with lawn/garden
___neighbor complained
___other ________________
Did you
___do the work yourself
___hire a certified arborist
___hire someone else
If you planted one or more trees, what type(s)? ____________
Did you
___do the work yourself
___hire a certified arborist
___hire someone else
In making future decisions about tree removal, trimming, or planting, which of the following would be helpful to you? (check all that apply)
___list of recommended tree species/varieties
___list of certified, insured arborists
___list of recommended books, pamphlets, and online resources about trees
___planting guidelines describing site selection, site preparation, and planting directions
___illustrated guidelines and instructions for pruning trees
___guidelines for protecting trees during demolition/construction
___information about identifying and treating common tree diseases
___information about invasive, non-native species and their control
This information would be more helpful
___online
___printed
___both
Trees in Arlington's parks and school grounds:
Which public park or school do you visit most frequently?
___________________
What is the overall condition of the trees in this park/school yard?
___excellent
___good
___fair
___poor
What sort of work is needed?
___trimming dead limbs
___treating diseased trees
___removing dead or diseased trees
___planting replacement trees
___better protection for trees during demolition/construction
The pros and cons of trees:
No matter where trees are located, they have the following benefits and drawbacks (check all that apply):
Benefits
___improve air quality/reduce pollution
___reduce noise
___add aesthetic value, beautify streetscape
___provide wildlife habitat
___storm water filtration
___reduce air conditioning costs
___other __________________________
Drawbacks
___hazards from falling limbs
___leaf removal work and costs
___block sun to lawns and gardens
___planting, maintenance, removal cost
___other ________________________
Should Arlington consider a tree protection bylaw?
To help protect public trees and certain trees on portions of private property, some communities have passed ordinances that promote tree planting and require a permit to remove certain trees (usually native species or large specimens near streets or property boundaries). Each community defines which trees and situations are covered by such a bylaw.
If Arlington were to consider a new tree bylaw, it should emphasize (check all that apply):
___preserving native and noteworthy shade trees on public land
___preserving native and noteworthy shade trees on private land
___protecting shade trees during demolition/construction on public
and private land
___maintaining and replacing trees in public parks and school grounds
___resolving conflicts between property owners
___other _________________________________________________