Tree warden to hold public hearing on proposed removal of 28-inch white pine at 296 Ryan Road

The commission’s chair, serving as tree warden, announced a request for a public shade-tree hearing regarding the removal of a single 28-inch white pine at 296 Ryan Road. The removal is proposed to realign an existing driveway to accommodate a forthcoming two-unit building project.

The chair said he had not yet scheduled the hearing but expected it to occur in a few weeks and explained the statutory public-notice requirements: a hearing must be advertised in the newspaper in two separate weeks, seven days apart; trees to be considered must be posted; and a site-posted on-site hearing is at the warden’s discretion so members of the public can see the tree in question.

The chair noted that if an objection is lodged at the hearing, the disposition of the tree is decided by the mayor (or by board of selectmen in different forms of government). Residents and other interested parties may also submit written objections to the tree warden before or at the hearing.

No final decision was made at the meeting; the chair said he will schedule and advertise the on-site hearing and follow the statutory posting and notice steps.