Preserving Our Green Legacy:
The Vital Importance of the Town's Tree Canopy

Following the recent storm that caused power outages in Town, many residents have asked what the Town does to protect and maintain our tree canopy, while also removing trees that are no longer healthy. We have therefore prepared the following note, which we hope residents will find useful.

Preserving Our Green Legacy: The Vital Importance of the Town’s Tree Canopy

The Town’s lush tree canopy is more than just a beautiful backdrop to our community -- it's a vital asset that enhances our quality of life, protects our environment, and defines the character of our neighborhood. From providing cooling shade during summer months to improving air quality year-round, our urban forest plays an essential role in making our Town a healthy, desirable place to live.

The Town's Commitment to Public Trees

The Town takes its stewardship of public trees seriously, maintaining approximately 2,000 street trees located within the Town’s right-of-way. The Town arborist inspects all public trees on a monthly basis, ensuring that our public canopy remains healthy and safe. These inspections, along with residents’ reports of public tree concerns, generate weekly pruning and removal lists for the Town’s contractor.  

It’s important to note that even trees that appear healthy from the ground can pose risks during severe weather events. Violent storms create windshear forces on tree canopies that can cause even healthy trees to fail unexpectedly. In addition, internal decay, root problems, structural weaknesses, and other conditions that compromise tree stability are often invisible to the naked eye and cannot be detected through ground-level visual inspections alone. If the arborist notes any signs of decline in a tree’s health, he may direct the Town’s contractor to climb the tree to inspect the canopy for any conditions that could compromise the health of the tree.   

This proactive approach to tree care helps identify potential hazards before they become dangerous and maintains the health of our urban forest. This work, combined with annual tree plantings, ensures that our streets remain lined with thriving trees that contribute to property values and community pride.

FYI: Over the past year, the Town removed 35 trees and planted 63 trees on Town property and rights of way.

Residents' Role in Private Tree Care

While the Town manages public trees, the health of our overall canopy depends heavily on the care residents provide for trees on private property. Private trees make up a significant portion of our community's green infrastructure, and their proper maintenance is crucial for preserving the environmental benefits we all enjoy.

The Town recognizes that caring for mature trees can be both complex and costly, which is why the Town developed several programs to support residents in this important responsibility.

Programs Available to Support Private Tree Care

Consulting Arborist Program

The Town provides a program offering homeowners a consultation from the Town's arborist, who will visit your property and provide a detailed report on tree health and care specific to your landscape. The arborist examines trees for pest infestations and hazardous conditions such as deadwood, rot, or co-dominant branches.

This service involves ground-level inspections only. While this ground-based assessment can identify many important issues and provide valuable guidance, residents who feel their trees may need a more comprehensive evaluation should consider hiring a certified arborist who can perform climbing inspections to thoroughly assess canopy health and structural integrity.

FYI:  The Town arborist performed over 103 consulting arborist visits over the past year.

Private Canopy Tree Maintenance Program

Understanding that proper tree care can be expensive, the Town offers the Private Canopy Tree Maintenance Program. This initiative helps defray costs for pruning and cabling canopy trees.

FYI: 56 households participated in the Private Canopy Tree Maintenance Program over the past year. 

Private Native Tree Planting Program

This program helps residents add to our community's tree canopy by planting native trees on private property. When a tree is requested, the Town arborist consults with the property owner to determine a suitable species and location for a new tree prior to planting. The Town purchases the trees, pays for professional installation, and provides a water bag to help residents with the critical first-year care. While the Town handles the initial investment, residents take on the long-term responsibility for the tree's care and maintenance.

FYI: The Town planted 128 trees on private property over the past year.

Private Tree removal Process and Application 

The Town requires a resident to obtain a permit to remove any tree measuring 24 inches in circumference at 4.5 feet above the ground. The arborist will inspect each tree requested to be removed. If a tree is not a canopy tree, as defined by the Town, the Town will issue a removal permit without conditions. If the tree is a canopy tree as defined by the Town, the arborist determines whether the tree is dying, dead, in danger of falling, or a hazard to the safety of persons or property. If the arborist finds one of these conditions to exist, a removal permit will be issued without conditions. If the arborist does not find one of these conditions to exist and denies the removal, there is an opportunity to appeal this decision to the Town Manager and then to the Town Council.

FYI: Over the last year, the Town arborist received removal requests for 64 private canopy trees. The arborist found 60 of these trees to be hazardous and approved their removal. Four tree removal requests were denied, and 3 of those were ultimately approved through the appeals process. One tree removal request was not appealed.

Whether you're considering planting a new tree, maintaining existing ones, or simply want to learn more about proper tree care, the Town's resources are available to help. For more information about the Town’s tree programs and to access application forms, visit bit.ly/TOCCTrees.

A Shared Responsibility

Our tree canopy is a community asset that requires both municipal leadership and individual stewardship. The Town's commitment to maintaining public trees and supporting private tree care creates a framework for success, but the health of our urban forest ultimately depends on every resident's participation, whether by reporting concerns with public trees or taking advantage of the programs available from the Town. Together, we can preserve and enhance the tree canopy that makes our community special.