Zoning Officer Says Shade Tree Ordinance Is Being Enforced

In Hellertown, if you remove a shade tree from in front of your home, you must replace it with an approved street tree within one planting season. That's the law, and the borough's Zoning and Codes Enforcement Officer told Borough Council that he's enforcing it.

Joe Chernaskey discussed shade tree plantings at council's April 4 meeting, telling them that since 2009, 45 shade trees have been removed by residents, with only 10 replacements planted.

In an effort to boost compliance with Ordinance 531, Chernaskey said he recently mailed letters to residents who have removed shade trees without replacing them.

In the letters, he said he advised them that the borough can plant a replacement tree if they fail to do so within one planting season, and place a lien against their property to cover the cost of the replacement, and then some.

The average cost to replace a street tree is about $200, but the costs associated with having a lien placed against one's property are much higher, he noted.

Since mailing the letters, Chernaskey said he has received responses from a number of residents, some of whom have already begun the process of choosing replacement trees and some of whom have pleaded for more time to plant new saplings.

Chernaskey said he responded to the residents who requested more time by telling them "you have until August 1."

Along with the letters, Chernaskey said he sent a list of approved street trees, in order to help speed up the process.

"I'm hoping that by August 1 I don't have to do anything and they will all be replaced," he told council.

At the meeting, Borough Manager Cathy Kichline also announced that the Hellertown Lions Club hopes to help with shade tree planting in the borough over the next couple of years.

Chernaskey noted that Elm Road is one borough street particularly in need of shade trees.

Years ago, he said, the trees along that street were lost to Dutch Elm Disease and "that street went from being tree-lined to nothing."