Draft tree ordinance in Ridgewood dubbed onerous

A resolution on Ridgewood shade trees may never take root.

THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS FILE PHOTO

The Ridgewood Planning Board recently reviewed a proposed shade tree ordinance.

The 10-page, single-spaced draft ordinance on the planting, replacement and preservation of shade trees, which the Village Council referred to the Planning Board for review, was described as "onerous" and likely unnecessary on Tuesday by several Planning Board members and Village Planner Blais Brancheau.

In the draft ordinance, homeowners would be required to obtain permits before removing trees on their properties, which Planning Board Chairman Charles Nalbantian noted may be impossible to enforce.

"Something like this can't be enforced unless a neighbor complains," he said, adding that it can create safety issues if a tree expert who wants to remove a tree cannot do so until a permit is obtained. "To restrict people's ability to manage their property, I think, creates a problem."

As a result, Brancheau noted that concerns addressed in the draft ordinance might be better addressed by internal policies and training in the Parks and Recreation Department, or an increase in department staffing for tree maintenance.

"An ordinance isn't the best solution," Brancheau said. "Internal policies would probably be more effective ... I'm not sure you want to be giving the responsibility to homeowners to maintain shade trees."

Nalbantian also suggested that a tree registry, which would encourage residents to inform the village about shade trees issues on a volunteer basis, might be another way to meet the commission's aims.

While those suggestions are being considered, the village Shade Tree Commission, which was officially established last November, will also be charged with simplifying the ordinance.

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Draft tree ordinance in Ridgewood dubbed onerous