Shhh, Tree Hearing in Session

by Allan Appel | February 22, 2007 3:10 PM | | Comments (8)

IMG_0921.JPGA neighbor sees that two old maples are marked for death row. Where does he go to challenge their fate? This woman has the answer.

Christy Hass (pictured) was waiting to conduct a tree hearing on Wednesday night at the administrative offices of the Department of Parks, Recreation, and (of course) Trees, at the corner of Edgewood and Yale Avenues.

By state law, explained Hass, who is the Elm City tree warden, each time the department decides to remove a tree, for reasons of damage or age, for example, public notice must be posted, and opportunity given for a hearing.

On this night, Hass gave Board of Parks Commissioner Clifton Bush, Jr. a hug while she waited for the aggrieved party to arrive. It seems two old maples on Willard Street had received their death warrants. A neighbor, reading the notices, thought too many trees were being removed.

“I’m waiting for him,” Hass said. “Because the procedure is clear. After I post notice that a tree is being removed, any aggrieved party has a right to come here and make the case as to why the trees should not come down. In this instance, these two trees are very old and it is time. I listen and then after I make a decision, and if the aggrieved party still disagrees with the decision, he can take me to superior court.”

Tree deaths (like that of this copper beech, slain by a landlord on Colony Road) have been known to stir up passionate opposition.

In her eight years as New Haven’s tree warden, has Hass’s arboreal judgment ever ended up in court? “Never,” she said. “Absolutely never. The state gives a lot of protection to our trees.” Then she went off to see if the complainant had arrived.

Epilogue: Reached Thursday, Hass said a neighbor did indeed appear at the hearing with his alderwoman, Ina Silverman. He explained that he understood the two sugar maples were unhealthy but that he nevertheless loved them, and asked why they could not be allowed some more months or years?

“So,” explained the tree warden, “I went out with an arborist earlier today and we examined the trees. They’re both in bad shape, damaged by sidewalks as well as, we think, having been hit by cars at a certain point. They’re only twenty years old but I don’t think they had much of a chance. Here was our judgment: We are going to take the first one down, the one nearest the street. The second one we will prune seriously, but if in the process we discover, as we go back into it, that it’s severely damaged, we’ll take that down too.”

And the aggrieved party’s next move? “He has ten days to appeal to State superior court for a further hearing. (Why a state jurisdiction? a reporter wanted to know, if the trees are the city’s? Because in its wisdom, Hass explained, the State wanted to have the decision regarding such environmental issues be above local politics) “Look, I love these trees too. I’m responsible for them, for the canopy they provide, and the ambiance of the city, and the heating and cooling functions they perform. But we’re also responsible for branches falling on people. We don’t allow that to happen either. It’s a balancing act.”

Hass estimates that every year New Haven removes anywhere from 500 to 800 trees. She wants New Haveners to understand that if they see a notice for removal on a tree, it does not mean that it will happen immediately. If someone wants to appeal, that must happen within days of seeing the notice, however; then the process described ensues. Unless there’s an emergency, which gets priority, it can take months for a posted tree to come down, due to the backlog. In this instance, definitely the one, and perhaps both maples in question will be gone within two months.







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Comments

Posted by: Cedar Hill Resident | February 22, 2007 4:12 PM

Christy Hass is a true lover of New Haven and has worked with our area. I have to say I could never see her removing a tree without making sure it is totally needed.

As an area on her long list of tree work and still waiting (for branches to be trimed in areas that need the lighting improved because of crime and interference with power lines) I am sure that she would not spend time removing trees unless it was needed.

Posted by: Ben Ross | February 22, 2007 8:40 PM

I love living in this area, the "tree warden", how cool! Next thing you know the city will listen to the citizens ( not just the 'port authority') about the trail around new haven harbor.

Posted by: pdh | February 23, 2007 7:34 AM

Great to know that tree rmeovals are subject to review -- but what is the City doing to preserve the trees? What is the City doing to replace the trees it removes? What is the City doing to educate homeowners about caring for trees?

Opposite Mellen House, near the corner of Whitney Avenue and Cottage Street, stands an extraordinary elm tree -- one that dates back to the time of James Hillhouse, who very likely planted it in the early 1800s. The tree has survived damage from automobilies, trucks, nature -- & the city's Department of Traffic & Parking, which staples "no parking" signs onto its battered trunk.

The city's great trees need not only public hearings on their removal, but serious efforts to prevent their destruction.

Posted by: Ned | February 23, 2007 8:01 AM

New trees need to be planted too. Many street trees, on upper Orange St. are nearing the end of their hard lives, but they're not being replaced - short term tenants and absentee landlords apparently have no interest in the future arboreal environment of the neighborhood - pavement seems to be the prefered groundcover.

Posted by: Cedar Hill Resident | February 23, 2007 2:18 PM

pdh..

Ok this is something I know :)

The city of New Haven helps fund a group called Greenspace through The Community Foundation and URI Most areas in New Haven have a Greenspace Group. (although some of the funding is being cut) We get classes on the care of trees and plants and a lot of other must knows for caring for the trees and plants in New Haven. The parks dept has a adopt of tree program to which is great!

here is a link to area greenspace page on it you will find links to all these groups and they can give you info about every thing that you stated above
http://cedarhillct.tripod.com/id1.html

The only thing is that you have to voluntary the time. Which save the city money and it is a great way to bring communities together. We have planted and replaced over 15 trees in our area and we prune and care for them as well as small curb side gardens that we put in areas that were dumping grounds at one time. I day a week for an hour or to in the summer for a few weeks is well worth what your area gets out of it!

Posted by: Rich | February 23, 2007 2:19 PM

I see I am not the only one seeing the Street Trees being cut down. What a great sign to see we are paying attention to the trees, but as homeowners are we taking care of the trees in front of out homes?
If we cut them down is there money in the budget to replace them?
Can we request the type of tree for the one that was cut downw?
One more comment-The city's been cutting tree's down every year- with the warm winter weather the Dept. of Parks appears not to have too many emergency's, so there keeping staff employed and busy.

Posted by: JET | February 24, 2007 10:18 AM

Yes, as Cedar Hill Resident oints out, the City of New Haven no longer has thier own tree planting program. Instead, they help to fund a non-profit, Urban Resources Initiative, to work with community groups to plant trees. This program has a nearly 100% success rate with the survival of street trees. However, recent funding cuts puts this program in jeopardy. For all the tree lovers out there, I urge you, make a donation to URI. Here is the web site http://www.yale.edu/uri/
Happy planting!

Posted by: Bennett Lovett-Graff | February 28, 2007 6:18 PM

What is the cost of replacing a tree? Are city permits required to replace it? Which ones? At what cost? Can we see an article from the New Haven Independent on tree restoration and replacement. I see too many trees cut down for good reasons but not replaced. I am wondering why.

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