Decision Reached On Future Of 2 Bible Street Park Trees

GREENWICH, CT — Greenwich Tree Warden Bruce Spaman has decided not to remove two trees from Bible Street Park, despite concerns raised during a public hearing last week that the trees could encroach on neighboring property.

The two small trees - a Swamp White Oak and Pin Oak - are only about two and a half inches in diameter and less than 11 feet tall, and Spaman believes that any possible encroachment onto neighboring property would take decades to occur.

GreenwichFreePress.com writes that Grove Street resident Elaine Baruno said during the hearing that the trees could eventually grow to 80 feet in height and 80 feet wide, which would dwarf her adjacent .12-acre property. She also said that among other concerns, the shade could make gardening difficult, which is an activity she currently enjoys.

In his decision, Spaman emphasizes that in addition to any massive growth taking years to achieve, the trees will add a lot of natural benefits to the community.

"The claims and concerns stated by the request to remove these trees all seem to fit into realm of [certain statutes]," wrote Spaman in a statement. "And frankly, it will be quite some time before any of these claims might come to pass as the full maturity of these trees is about 80 years from now. In fact, many of these claims might seem beneficial to another person with a different perspective. Shade for cooling, oxygen to offset carbon dioxide, visual screen to a parking lot, absorption of excess water, wildlife food and habitat and the list goes on.

"As Tree Warden my decision is not to remove these two (2) trees with regards to the concerns and complaints as testified at the Public Hearing."

Below is the full text of Spaman's statement:

A public hearing was held on Wednesday, February 22, 2018 at 12:00PM for two (2) trees posted
for removal on the property of Bible Street Park. As required by Chapter 451, Section 23-59 of the
Connecticut General Statutes, a public hearing was called because an appeal objecting to the removal of
these trees was received within ten days of their posting. The two (2) trees are generally located in the
northwest portion of the park in Cos Cob.

The diameters of the two (2) trees to be removed are 2” – 2 1⁄2 “ in caliper measure(1). The tree
species are Swamp White Oak and Pin Oak. Tree heights were estimated to be 10 feet +/-. These trees
were recently planted in the summer of 2017 by the Greenwich Youth Conservation Program (GYCP)
sponsored and administered by the Greenwich Department of Human Services. This program provides
short-term summer employment and training for local youths to introduce them to conservation activities
in parks and other town owned properties.

The person requesting the removal of these trees cited concerns for the future encroachment and
nuisance that these trees may cause to her property located adjacent to these 2 trees. The nuisances cited
that the mature trees may:

1. Drop many leaves on the property;
2. Acorns (fruit) may be hazardous underfoot and attract Lyme Disease affected mice and deer;
3. Increasing cleanup of leaves and acorns will become a financial burden;
4. The possibility of damages to the property from branches extending over the yard and house;
5. The tree root systems may become invasive and damage stonework of the property;
6. The trees will block easterly sunlight reducing property value;
7. Vegetable gardening may be diminished due to lack of sunlight.

In 2009, the Town revised the “Tree Ordinance” officially known as Chapter 13 of the Town
Code titled ‘Trees, Shrubs and Woody Vegetation.’ The revised ordinance provided for an Arboricultural
Specifications and Policy Manual (Chapter 13 Sec. 13-3 b of the Greenwich Code.)(2)

(1) Caliper measure: The diameter in inches of a nursery grown tree measured 6” above ground level.
(2) Sec. 13-3 b). Greenwich Arboricultural Specifications and Policy Manual. The Tree Warden shall prepare and maintain a manual containing regulations and standards for the planting, maintenance, removal and protection of trees, shrubs and woody vegetation upon Town-owned property which shall be known as the Greenwich Arboricultural Specifications and Policy Manual.

Since that time it has been the Town’s stated policy in section 5 of the Public Tree Policy that “Trees are not to be removed ‘for doing what trees do naturally’. Trees are not to be removed for shedding fruit, nuts, leaves, twigs and small branches, or for sheltering wildlife.”

The claims and concerns stated by the request to remove these trees all seem to fit into realm of section 5. And frankly, it will be quite some time before any of these claims might come to pass as the full maturity of these trees is about 80 years from now. In fact, many of these claims might seem beneficial to another person with a different perspective. Shade for cooling, oxygen to offset carbon dioxide, visual screen to a parking lot, absorption of excess water, wildlife food and habitat and the list goes on.

As Tree Warden my decision is not to remove these two (2) trees with regards to the concerns and complaints as testified at the Public Hearing.

This is the final decision of the Tree Warden of the Town of Greenwich. Let it be known that Chapter 451, Section 23-59 of the Connecticut General Statutes states “..the Tree Warden shall render his decision granting or denying the application, and the party aggrieved by such decision may, within ten days, appeal therefrom to the superior court or the judicial district within which such town or borough is located.”

This decision will be posted in the lobby of the offices of the Parks and Recreation Department
located on the 2nd floor of the Town Hall, the sign post in the lobby of Town Hall and the Department of Parks and Recreation page on the Town’s website. It will also be sent to persons present at the Public Hearing and to those who appealed the posting of these trees for removal.

As your Tree Warden, by Connecticut statute, I am charged with the “care and control” of all town owned trees. The Tree Division doesn’t take this responsibility lightly. Each and every tree slated for removal is inspected and decided on a case-by-case basis.

It is our belief that trees on streets, in parks, school campuses, open space properties, woodlands and at town facilities all constitute what we call Greenwich’s Community Forest. This special forest provides important environmental, aesthetic, recreational and social benefits to its residents. The Community Forest also needs to be safe for its residents and strive to be compatible with necessary town infrastructure improvements such as roads, sidewalks, buildings, underground and overhead utilities. These trees often grow in extremely difficult conditions and hard decisions need to be made.

Planting sites for trees away from such infrastructure challenges are few and difficult to find. These locations are identified as important places for trees to grow naturally and unobstructed so trees are able to provide a full complement of environmental and aesthetic benefits for the residents of the Town.

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