MANASQUAN — In an effort to get more trees planted in town, the Manasquan borough council, at its meeting on Tuesday, introduced several amendments that would alter the borough’s existing shade tree ordinance.
Four specific areas were of focus of the amendments; removal of trees, the protection of trees during construction, the municipal tree escrow fund and the establishment of a section for construction permits.
Mayor Micheal Mangan summarized the proposed changes to meeting attendees: “This basically tightens up our existing tree ordinances in relation to construction and building. So, what this does is make sure that if you’re demolishing a building, clearing a lot and or doing a major modification to a building, the tree ordinance will apply, meaning that if you cut down any trees, you’ll have to replace them in kind or add money to the tree escrow fund.”
The amendments also establish a municipal tree escrow fund. According to the ordinance, the fund is “for the administration and promotion of environmental enhancement programs such as tree planting, tree preservation, landscaping or other related projects on or within municipally owned properties or facilities.”
The escrow fund offers a separate outlet to builders or homeowners who can’t or don’t want to plant trees on their property. If a resident elects to contribute to the fund in lieu of planting, guidelines based on the diameter at breast height (DBH) determine the amount necessary to contribute to the fund, ranging from $500 to $2,500.
The first amendment, which deals with the removal of trees, deems it “unlawful for any person to kill or remove a tree” in the borough right-of-way without first applying for and obtaining permission from the borough’s Shade Tree Commission (STC). If the ordinance is violated, residents will pay into the municipal tree escrow fund.
In the event of removal or construction of buildings, the owner/contractor is required to plant two trees on the property, in accordance with seven standards that were introduced in the amendments. Among a series of standards, trees can be shade trees or an ornamental flowering tree, along with specific placement location requirements in regard to sidewalks, to name a few. The requirements must be met in order to obtain a certificate of occupancy from the borough, the ordinance states.
Additionally, the amendments state that if the commission determines there isn’t adequate room for the planting of trees, the owner/contractor would be required to contribute $500 to the tree escrow fund. If the owner/contractor fails to plant the trees as required, they shall pay into the tree escrow fund, according to the introduced ordinance.
The ordinance amendments include the addition of a section regarding the issuance of a construction permit. The property survey must include a no more than year old notation of all trees with a DBH of more than 4 inches, the ordinance states. If builders elect to replace trees on an established property, the ordinance requires specific planting guidelines based on DBH to account for the trees removed. Replacement trees are required to be in “good condition” for at least two years, the ordinance states.
“This is stepping up and tightening up the old tree ordinances that were in place, but quite frankly were ineffective, with the stated goal of the mayor and council to try and get more trees planted in the borough,” Mayor Mangan said.
According to Mayor Mangan, if adopted the construction office would implement the ordinance in January.
The ordinance states that the resident tree buying program offered by the Shade Tree Commission every spring and fall can be utilized to fulfill planting obligations. Further information on the program can be found on the commission website, keepsquangreen.com.
The ordinance will be voted on for adoption at the council’s next meeting on Monday, Dec. 2 at 7 p.m. in the Manasquan Borough Hall.
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