Shade Tree Advisory Committee

WESTWOOD SHADE TREE COMMITTEE SPECIAL MEETING APPROVED MINUTES FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2024 –6:30PM 1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER – The meeting was called to order by the chairman at 6:30pm. 2. MEMBERS PRESENT: Dan Zambrano, Christine Blaney, Fred Rella, Beth Staples, and Terence Beutel, Councilwoman Erin Collins Absent: Michael Murtaugh 3. TREE REMOVAL/REPLACEMENT DISCUSSION – RE: ABBOTT 169 CARVER AVE. There was discussion of the trees proposed to be removed at 169 Carver Avenue. Since there appears to be a discrepancy between the number of trees to be removed according to the applicant and the number on the drawing which the WSTC had previously reviewed, it was decided to request that the Borough’s contracted arborist review the site and report as to the number of trees that are proposed to be removed. It was also noted that additional time should be requested to allow the Arborist to complete her review and report. A letter to the Westwood Zoning Board stating these requests was drafted and approved with copies to be sent to the Mayor, the Borough Attorney, the Borough Administrator, and the Construction Code Official. 4. ADJOURNMENT – The meeting was adjourned at 7:08pm.  Westwood Shade Tree Committee March 1, 2024 William Martin, Chairman - Westwood Zoning Board Jaymee Hodges, Chairman – Westwood Planning Board 101 Westwood Avenue Westwood, NJ 07675 The Westwood Shade Tree Committee (WSTC) received the following documents during our Open Forum at our February 27, 2024 public meeting regarding LOT 19 BLOCK 2208 ABBOTT 169 CARVER AVE: Tree Removal Plan (dated 2/18/24), Planting Plan (dated 2/18/24) and Planting Details and Notes (dated 2/18/24). The WSTC further reviewed these plans at a public special March 1, 2024 meeting. Given that there is a decided discrepancy in the number of trees counted on the subject property between the WSTC original count and the RDH Design Group count, the WSTC formally requests that the Zoning Board consult with Liz Stewart, Borough Contract Licensed Tree Expert, to review the site and report as to the exact number of trees that would have to be removed subject to our Borough Shade Tree ordinances. It is anticipated that this review will need at least 30 days to complete. Additionally, the WSTC discovered a discrepancy in the number of replacement trees required per ordinance in the applicant’s plans. Very truly yours, Dan Zambrano, Chairman Westwood Shade Tree Committee CC: Mayor: Ray Arroyo Borough Administrator: Durene Ayer Borough Clerk: Karen Hughes Borough Legal: Levi Kool Construction Code Official: Armand Marini Land-Use Council Liaison: Lauren Letizia Zoning Board Attorney: Thomas Randall, Esq.