Long-Awaited Cherry Hill Tree Ordinance Called ‘Tough, Fair, Robust’

CHERRY HILL, NJ – Cherry Hill Township Council introduced a new ordinance Monday night that it said addresses what residents have called a worrisome, high number of trees from being cut down on the township to make room for new development.

There are seven key provisions in the proposed ordinance, Cherry Hill’s Director of Community Development Cosmas Diamantis said during the meeting. Those provisions are:

• requiring onsite tree replacement, on a “one-for-one” basis for all commercial development applicants and certain residential applicants:
• creating a fund that “requires certain applicants seeking tree removal to make a contribution to the fund for each tree removed if they do not choose to replant trees onsite” and then using these funds exclusively for tree planting projects, such as purchasing and planting trees throughout Cherry Hill;
• expanding who is considered a “person” in development applications to “include virtually any person, whether an owner, tenant, business, or company so that in the event illegal tree removal occurs, all responsible parties may be issued a summons to court;”
• requiring those found guilty of violating the ordinance to replant all illegally removed trees on their property or pay $300 for each tree removed and not replanted onsite; such tasks or fees are in addition to the penalty imposed by the judge;
• mandating that all those wishing to remove trees, except for trees that are deemed an “imminent threat,” will now need to file an application to the township’s Department of Public Works to ensure ordinance compliance;
• removing the possibility that the planning board reviews applications that allow more trees to be removed than is permitted by the ordinance; and
• requiring “review and approval of any trees that an applicant seeks to plant in the right of way so as to protect the integrity of nearby public utilities and structures.”

Mayor Susan Shin Angulo said during the meeting she was “proud” of the ordinance.

“My administration has worked diligently with council over the past few months to craft the ordinance,” she said. “These trees are incredibly valuable to our health, our planet and our quality of life. We will do everything possible to protect the trees that we have. We also must ensure that when the trees are lost, they need to be replaced so that generations that follow benefit from our beautiful trees.”

Council President David Fleisher added he hoped the new ordinance can be “tough, but fair.”

Cherry Hill residents who have been waiting for several months for the ordinance to be introduced, wanted to study the plan a bit more before giving it a thumbs up or thumbs down.

“This is very robust,” Martha Wright, told council. “I look forward to reviewing the draft online and letting residents review the same.”

Anne, another Cherry Hill resident, said she was “glad” that council has given the tree ordinance a lot of thought.

“The ongoing butchering of the trees in Kingston [Estates] by PSE&G and the eventual removal of 700 trees on Evesham Road,” she said. “We really did not have anything in place to protect our neighborhoods. So I'm glad to hear that for a long time you've been discussing it.”

Council will likely vote on adopting the tree ordinance after hearing public comment at its next meeting, according to Fleisher.

The new ordinance, which Diamantis said is a complete repeal and replacement of the existing one, will take effect within 20 days after its adoption and final publication, according to a draft of the ordinance.

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