Cherry Hill’s Revised Tree Ordinance Could Be Introduced This Week

CHERRY HILL, NJ – The first draft of an ordinance regarding Cherry Hill’s trees should be released this week, a member of Cherry Hill Township said at a township council meeting on Monday.

Citing concerns which include property devaluation and damage, township residents have asked the township council and zoning board at previous meetings to review its ordinance regarding the number of trees that can be cut down to make room for new residential and commercial development.

For example, comments made at previous meetings have suggested that one proposed project would involve cutting down 591 trees and only planting 100 to replace them.

Some of those concerns were reiterated during Monday’s meeting.

“There are an awful lot of people really invested in this ordinance,” Cherry Hill Resident Martha Wright told the council. “The [tree] saplings that were planted 60 years ago are now mature trees, but we're losing hundreds of them every year.”

Council President David Fleisher said at the Monday meeting the finishing touches are being put on the proposed ordinance.

“We know the staff is working diligently as members of the administration council,” he said. “We just want to have it polished up and in good form prior to prior to releasing”

Wright also wanted assurances that she and other residents will be able to offer feedback on the proposal.

“These things move pretty quickly,” she said during Monday’s meeting. “The question is, how do we provide feedback so that it can be considered by council members and possibly integrated into this new ordinance?”

When the ordinance is ready, it will be placed on the township’s website and then discussed at the township meeting in May, Fleisher said. Residents may offer feedback via email if they so choose.

“This will allow for a full month of additional feedback,” he said.

The next Cherry Hill Township Council Meeting is scheduled for April 25.

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