[ back ]
Education key in enforcing tree ordinance
(by Maggie Fazeli Fard - March 12, 2008)
While the Borough of Westwood has had an ordinance governing tree removal on the books for close to three years, there is still a problem: the rules aren’t being enforced.
“It’s not being used to its full effectiveness,” said Linda Hayes, chairman of the 8-year-old Shade Tree Advisory Committee, at the March 4 mayor and council meeting. The tree ordinance was passed in May 2005 and is intended to regulate the removal and replacement of trees in the borough.
Hayes cited three recent examples in which the committee was called in to examine trees on private properties at the behest of the Zoning Board of Adjustment or residents, only to find that trees had been removed without permission and without proper documentation. In these cases, the committee was left without the ability to exact a fine or replacement for the trees as is dictated in the tree ordinance.
Hayes recommended adding a provision requiring planning and zoning board application to include photographs of the property as well as counts and measurements of the trees to be affected.
Also, she suggested educating residents about what they can and cannot do with the trees on their own properties and sending an informational mailer to local masons and landscapers informing them of Westwood’s rules.
“What we need is for everyone… to be on the same page enforcing the ordinance,” Hayes said. “I know you think of us as ‘tree huggers,’ but together I think we can all be ‘Westwood huggers.’”
The mayor and council did not take any action in amending the tree ordinance at Tuesday’s meeting.
Maggie Fazeli Fard's e-mail address is fazelifard@northjersey.com.
[ back ]
