GREENFIELD — Residents will now be able to take down trees that are deemed hazardous more expediently, following a vote from the Conservation Commission to create a new Hazard Tree Removal Policy.
The policy gives the city’s conservation agent the authority to review and decide on applications to remove up to five trees within wetlands or buffer zones, and the tree warden the authority over applications for trees that are located within the public right of way or that are subject to the Massachusetts law on shade trees.
“There wasn’t previously a policy for hazardous tree removal. The procedure was that if a tree was in a wetland or buffer zone, there was an application they would fill out, and it could be lengthy,” Conservation Agent Jessica Siegel explained. “If there’s any risk to the safety of people or property with the tree standing, we want to streamline the process.”
The policy states that trees that are damaged by a storm, insect or disease, and that pose a risk to someone’s property — including driveways, yards, leach fields, homes or sheds — may be removed with the approval of the conservation agent or tree warden.
“I’ll come out and look at what’s going on,” Siegel explained. “Every situation is different, but we’ll come up with a plan for how removal equipment can get in there and what replanting will look like.”
Tree removal equipment must remain on paved or landscaped areas, and replacement trees or shrub planting is required.
However, the policy does not apply to trees that residents seek to remove for aesthetic reasons. Community members who are looking to remove trees that are not considered hazardous have to request approval from the Conservation Commission.
In a statement, Mayor Ginny Desorgher said the new policy would help cut through red tape and remove barriers to removing hazardous trees, such as filing applications with both the city and the state, publishing notices in the newspaper and waiting weeks for applications to be reviewed.
“Our goal with this new policy is to bring common sense back to the process,” Desorgher said. “We want to ensure that our regulations protect our natural resources without becoming a burden to the people who live here. This policy change ensures that if a tree poses a genuine risk, it can be dealt with promptly and safely.”
The policy doesn’t state a specific timeline for how quickly approval will be given for tree removal, but it does state that residents no longer have to wait for lengthy application periods and Conservation Commission approval to remove a tree that is at risk of falling.
The regulation also includes a provision for emergency tree removal, allowing residents to remove trees that pose an imminent risk prior to receiving authorization, as long as they submit a retroactive application complete with photo documentation within 48 hours.
“We want to be cognizant of … the impacts hazard trees can have on the safety of people and property,” Siegel said.
To view the Hazard Tree Removal Policy or for more information on applying to remove a tree, visit tinyurl.com/GreenfieldConComm.
