Newton City Councilors File Tree Protection Ordinance

NEWTON, MA — A group of Newton City Councilors have filed legislation to expand the city’s existing tree protection ordinance.

Councilors Julia Malakie and Emily Norton, along with numerous co-docketers, introduced three docket items related to strengthening Newton’s current tree ordinance, including a temporary moratorium on tree removal.

"Trees cool the air, clean the air, sequester carbon, mitigate against flooding, provide habitat for wildlife, and improve mental health,” Norton said in a recent newsletter. “When you think of all the benefits they provide, it is illogical the way we are so cavalier about letting them be cut down, especially as we face hotter summers and more frequent flooding from climate change.”

According to the councilors, Newton’s current tree ordinance needs to be revised and amended in these ways:

• A protected tree’s width at breast height (DBH) must be 6” instead of 8”.
• There need to be no lots exempted from tree protection.
• There need to be protections for trees abutting lots with damaging activities
• Protections must be enacted for appropriate species of replacement trees to be planted with oversight of first three years’ growth.
• Appeals for removal of healthy mature trees must be restricted to reasonable safety and wellbeing provisions.
• There must be better guidelines to retain perimeter trees during construction.
• Replacement, whether planting new trees or paying a compensation fee, should reflect the current science showing the need for a higher ratio of replacement inches and showing the expensive energy, infrastructure, public health, and other costs to the city.

In addition, several councilors are proposing a temporary moratorium on tree removals that would be in effect for one year.

This moratorium would apply to trees that have a diameter of six inches or greater and would not affect tree removal permits issued prior to its effective date or trees determined to be dead or dangerous.