Tree board advances urban-forest ordinance amendments and flags unauthorized removals

The Chesapeake Beach Tree Board on May 11 said the town will consider two proposed urban-forest ordinance amendments and discussed enforcement and notification improvements following reports of unauthorized tree removals.

The chair told members the town included two items on an upcoming work session agenda: one ordinance would raise the threshold at which a permit must come before the board from one tree to three trees; the other would clarify clauses about the board’s role in permit appeals so that the board is not the appeal authority. The chair said she will attend the work session to provide backup information and answer questions.

Board members also discussed recent reports that a large tree on B Street was removed before code enforcement could stop the activity; the transcript records two incidents on the same street. Members agreed to follow up on whether permits had been obtained. One board member noted that for large trees he typically goes on-site and that residents should call town hall if they see active cutting without a permit.

The board discussed a new electronic permit submission and email-notification system that notifies board members when tree permits arrive. The chair said she will track permit timelines (45 days) in parallel with town processing to ensure the board has timely awareness; if the ordinance amendment increasing the threshold passes, fewer single-tree permits will come before the board.

Next steps: the chair plans to attend the town work session to represent the board on the proposed amendments and will follow up with staff about the B Street removals.