Tuckahoe Village Departments

TUCKAHOE TALK
With Mayor John Fitzpatrick

Show me the trees

August, 2009

Over a year ago I wrote very briefly regarding trees, but this subject deserves a more in-depth look. Whether you know it or not, the subject of trees makes some people crazy. Since I already possess this knowledge, one would think that I would steer clear of this topic, but instead I say "once more unto the breach." Residents' concerns are generally limited to the village trees and their impact to the sidewalk. However, interest occasionally stretches to a neighbor's property and trees. The most common fear is that a tree will fall and crush their house or someone they love. This isn't an irrational fear, since it does occur from time to time. However, this kind of anxiety has certainly led to the demise of a few healthy trees along the way.

Mother Nature has her own way of eliminating trees. Whether it be storms, infestation, disease or simply old age, no tree stands forever. As a municipality, we lose many trees each year and it seems some are more missed than others. For instance, last summer Village Hall lost a 300-year-old tree. The tree in question, a 50-foot Linden, was struck by lightning and unfortunately deemed unsavable. Removal cost was $5,000. We attempted to have insurance cover the loss and replacement, but we were informed we were out of luck. Similar to homeowners, the village is only covered for things that don't happen.

Village Hall also had a 30-foot dead Maple that had to be removed. Since the village receives many claims from residents regarding a tree they believe is dead, this would have been a good example of what to look for in verifying if a tree is indeed dead. The specimen didn't have a single leaf - it was a 30-foot stick. But not all trees are visibly dead, so I recommend residents continue to contact my office if concerns arise.

Viewing our landscape, or lack thereof, made apparent the necessity for the establishment of a long-range tree plan. But a plan for increasing our tree inventory must span and be adhered to by many administrations. We should remember that when Olmstead designed Central Park, it took decades for the beauty of the vision to be realized. So how are we going about planning our tree future? The fact of the matter is we have already begun. Supervisor Colavita was gracious enough to lend Tuckahoe a specific tool that proved to be the genesis of this plan. That tool is a GPS Mapping Device with associated software. The device has enabled us to mark the location of all public trees along with other important information such as estimated health, age and height. Just like the TV commercial concerning a smart planet, we will use computers to manage the data and follow patterns. Once the overall picture is finally inputted, we will map out how to best introduce new trees and increase our inventory of healthy trees that are sustainable. So if you happen to see a person standing at the tree in front of your house with a strange hand held device, have no fear. It is probably one of the several persons involved in this project. This data collection will enable future administrations to manage this vital component of the suburban experience.

Mapping and identifying is only one aspect of our tree initiative. Frank DiMarco, our Superintendent of Public Works, recently passed his certification to be an arborist. This has saved the village from seeking an outside arborist firm to determine the health of questionable trees in our community. This is a new policy. Previously, the company that received most of the contracts to remove trees was the same one that ascertained which tree was in need of removal. Another change of late has been a break from the policy of a former DPW chief who had a tendency to plant rather small trees. If these survived at all, it appeared they might be beautiful trees around the time your great-grandchildren were being born. We are now spending more money to purchase larger trees. This still may not grant the instant gratification many of us have come to expect. However, most of us will at least be around to see the impact.

The Village of Tuckahoe has a vital interest in the planting and preservation of trees within its borders. Trees provide necessary shade, green space and aesthetic appeal. They also impede soil erosion, inhibit excess runoff and flooding, reduce air pollution and aid in mitigating noise. Preserving trees enhances the health, property values and general welfare of the residents of Tuckahoe.

Finally, no discussion on the topic of trees would be complete without pointing out the work of the Tree Committee. These dedicated residents who meet regularly at Village Hall were instrumental in implementing most of the current initiatives. This group will be in charge of helping outline the long-term tree plan for our community after the mapping and data is collected. They can always use more help, so feel free to contact them. The Tree Committee is also putting the final touches on a tree ordinance they wish to present to the Village Board for potential ratification. Since I've been informed this law will limit the cutting of even private trees, I expect a great deal of resident input during the public hearing process.

As a former city dweller I remain cognizant of the importance of trees. The next time you are in an affluent neighborhood, take notice of the trees. The "better" the neighborhood, the more trees and the larger the specimens. Our village's history as an industrial center is probably one of the reasons we don't have a greater number of larger trees. Nevertheless, in this case our future needn't be determined by the past.