By Ben Oleksinski
Bedford Arbor Resources Committee (BARC) has developed a comprehensive policy concerning the regulation of publicly owned trees which was presented to the Selectmen on May 14. In collaboration with Public Works and Grounds Operations, the draft policy calls for a more consistent process with inclusive coverage of all definitions of trees in town.
The Town of Bedford Tree Policy would include protections for ‘public shade trees’ in accordance with state law, with additional notification, mitigation, and enforcement requirements related to the maintenance and removal of such trees.
But the policy would also concern other trees not protected by state laws: town trees and significant trees. Town trees, any tree on town-owned property or leased land being used as a public facility, fall under the jurisdiction of the Selectmen acting as park commissioners. Significant trees are similarly covered, individually designated by the Selectmen for their unique value. BARC aims to better regulate both types of trees in the event of construction, removal, or other preventable damage.
Such an event would fall under three circumstances: private request roadside, public project roadside, and public project land. For consideration, each would be processed by a series of meetings. This starts with an optional BARC meeting, then review by other boards and last, review at either a public shade tree hearing or town tree meeting.
In effect, the process would use mitigation to settle losses of town assets during removal.
For financial compensation, the suggested monetary amount allowed is $500. This could change based on the upwards of ‘maximum’ declared by the legislature with a new suggestion appearing in the final draft.
The policy also provides guidelines for compensation in the form of replanting. The number of new trees for each tree removed depends on circumstance. For example, whether the request for removal is public or private, the height of tree, and acres of land disturbed.
The Tree Warden would oversee such regulations.
BARC’s overall goal for their proposal is transparency. The process is public, open to the community for dialogue concerning mitigation or related issues. The proposal is intended to be flexible enough to provide such an opportunity, but also consistent to maintain its management strategy.
The proposal is still in development and is scheduled for review and adoption at the next Selectmen’s meeting.
Click this link to download/view/print BARC’s PowerPoint presentation
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