City to formalize tree removal policy

New Bern aldermen agreed Tuesday on a policy to formalize the removal and replacement of trees on city property.

Matt Montanye, interim public works director, presented the policy and will bring it back to aldermen later for final approval.

Montanye said staff realize a clear policy for removal and replacement of trees was needed after two large trees on Spencer Avenue were marked for removal in April by the city public works when a property owner there asked for them to be removed. The city, mayor and aldermen received a lot of calls over that incident, he said.

In the past, there was never a formal policy for tree removals. The way the Spencer Avenue trees were handled is the way the city has always done it, Montanye said.

About two months ago, city staff, the Appearance Commission andParks and Recreation drafted a tree removal and replacement policy and procedures, Montanye said.

Mark Stephens, New Bern city manager, said the policy is basically how city workers are removing trees. But the new policy gives the Parks and Recreation Department more control of tree replacement once old, hazardous, diseased or obstructive trees have been removed, he said.

Other criteria for removing trees include: life expectancy of the tree; desirability of the species; amount of space needed for growth; quality and structural integrity; frequency of maintenance; feasibility and timeliness of planting a replacement tree; proximity and quality of trees near the one being considered for removal; past pruning and maintenance record; how much lateral damage is caused to infrastructure, streets, sidewalks and sewers; and location relative to streetlights, traffic control devices, intersection sight lines and space needed for growing.

Removing a tree will involve about 10 steps that start with filling out a form and turning it into the Parks and Recreation Department, Montanye said.

The tree will be evaluated and, if it needs to be removed, a 10-day notice will be placed on it. Appeals can be made within that 10 days to the director of Parks and Recreation, Montanye said.

If there is an appeal, a qualified person, not employed by the city, will do a separate evaluation of the tree and forward the information to the Appearance Commission for a final decision, according to the policy.

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City to formalize tree removal policy