Compromise likely on Tuckahoe tree legislation

At the Feb. 8 meeting of the Tuckahoe Village Board, the board continued a public hearing on a proposed law restricting how often and in what circumstances a resident could cut down trees on private property and seeking to further protect public and "historic" trees.

Initially, the proposed law articulated that trees measuring 8 inches or more in DBH (diameter breast height, a measurement used by arborists) would be restricted to one tree removal per year with two weeks prior notification to the building department and that additional trees would require a permit (based on a tree's diseased condition or other negative impact). All trees under 8 inches DBH, in the original law, could be removed without limit or notification of the building department.

For the meeting, at the request of Tuckahoe Mayor John Fitzpatrick (D), Frank DiMarco, superintendent of the Department of Public Works, constructed models illustrating what trees with DBHs of 8, 10, 12 and 14 inches would look like.

Based on the models and prior input from residents who grow and periodically remove fruit trees, the board came to a tentative agreement to change the language of the proposed law to increase the unrestricted tree measurement to 10 inches DBH, which would also exempt the vast majority of traditional fruit trees.

After two months on the village board agenda, it appears likely that the tree legislation could come up to a vote at the board's next meeting on March 1.