Public hearing scheduled for downtown tree removal

Published: September 2, 2014 | Last Modified: September 2, 2014 07:37PM

By Andrew Ragali Record-Journal staff

WALLINGFORD A hearing Friday afternoon will allow for public feedback on the towns decision to remove 38 pear and oak trees along Center Street from Route 5 to North Main Street.

The hearing will be held in the Town Hall auditorium at 4 p.m. It will be hosted by Public Works Director Henry McCully, the towns tree warden. Trees along Center Street were marked for removal last week.

According to state statute, any member of the public opposing tree removal has 10 days to notify the tree warden in writing. Once an appeal is filed, the tree warden is required to hold a public hearing. Town Councilor John LeTourneau, who owns a business on Center Street, said he filed an appeal late last week.

Within three days after the hearing, the tree warden must approve or deny the appeal. Within 10 days of the decision, an appeal may be filed in Superior Court.

Mayor William W. Dickinson Jr. has said the trees are scheduled to be removed and replaced this fall because theyve gotten too large.

The trees now lining Center Street were planted in the mid-1990s.

Dickinson feels planting smaller trees will avoid damage to sidewalks, create more pedestrian space and look aesthetically attractive.

The town removed 28 Callery pear trees on nearby Quinnipiac Street this spring, replacing them with the same species. Dickinson has said the town plans on replacing trees along Center Street and North Main and South Main streets over the next two years as part of a tree planting program

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Public hearing scheduled for downtown tree removal