During “Commissioner Comments”, Planning Commissioner Judy Workings, who also is an appointed Parks and Recreation Commissioner (appointed by Board of Trustees to fill the vacancy created by Maryann Whitman’s resignation) asked the group how the tree ordinance applies to removal of trees such as black cherry or red maple by Parks and Recreation.
Commmission Chair Gary Kwapis asked Planning Coordinator Don Mende to address the question. He asked Commissioner Workings the reason for the tree removal, assuming it was invasive species. Commissioner Judy Workinngs said “The Steward would like to change the environment of a forest and change it back to oak barrens and therefore in order to do that would need to take out certain trees that aren’t oaks, basically”.
Mr. Mende asked ASTI Evironmental Consultant Paul Renschler to address the Commission on this matter. Mr. Resnchler said,“The tree ordinance does have an exemption for forest management, for approved management plans, for timber harvest or other forest management objectives. So it may come under there. But as Mr. Mende suggests we can take a look at it and come back with an opinion, But, theoretically properties greater than 25 acres would still have some sort of requirement for tree protection, tree replacement outside of that kind of forest management objective.”
At this point Chairman Kwapis, (just reelected as Chairman) asked Mr. Mende and Rentschler if they could be prepared with their anwers at the next meeting.
Commissioner John Giannangeli suggested ” Also if you could, determine if the actual owner of the land have to approve that”. There was a discussion about the Township being the owners, not the Parks Commission.
There seemed to be a general consensus that Parks and Recreation endeavors are probably not exempt from the Tree Ordinance
The whole less than ten minute discussion can be seen starting at minute 2:23:28 or Agenda 9. If this interests you watch the whole discussion and attend next month.
I suspect this discussion was motivated by this citizen comment made at the January 12, 2022 Parks and Recreation meeting, which I had overlooked.
Oakland Township Sentinel 