Princeton Considers Exception To Tree Ordinance In Case Of Ash Trees

Princeton, NJ -- Princeton residents will not need a $40 permit to remove ash trees infected with the Emerald Ash Borer beetle, the Princeton Packet reports.

They will still need to notify Municipal Arborist Lorraine Konopka, who told council she is already receiving a lot of requests to remove the trees on Monday night.

In two weeks, council will vote on whether or not to lift restrictions on removing Ash trees that are eight inches in diameter or bigger, according to the report. There are no restrictions in place on trees smaller than that.

Princeton recently passed an ordinance calls for anyone who gets a permit to cut down a tree to plant replacement trees equal to the size of the one they cut down, or pay the town $1,600, which would go into the Princeton Shade Tree Trust Reserve.

Residents who cut down an ash tree would also not be required to replace them. The provision would expire in 2026, with the town to evaluate the situation at that time, according to the report.

Emerald Ash Borer is a non-native insect that measures 1/2” long and 1/8” wide, according to the New Jersey Department of Agriculture.

It is metallic green, with a metallic copper red abdomen. An image is attached to this post.

Its larvae cut through the bark of an infested tree in order to kill it. A tree infested with Emerald Ash Borer lives about 3-4 years.

The larvae are white or cream colored, measure approximately 1 to 1 ¼” long and have 10 abdominal segments that are bell shaped. It lives for about a year.

Emerald Ash Borer was first discovered in 2002 and has since been found in 27 states since. They have killed tens of millions of ash trees.

Patch file photo

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