Commission hears plan to remove leaning pitch pine at 36 Whistler Lane, asks staff to draft permit

Theresa Sprague of Duplex Design, representing the Hagerty family, told the Dennis Conservation Commission on June 25 that her revised plan for 36 Whistler Lane reduces the number of trees proposed for removal, narrows a proposed vista corridor and calls for removing a leaning pitch pine that she said poses a bank-leverage hazard.

"We feel that it poses a fall in bank leverage hazard," Sprague said, describing photographs and a report by her colleague that show the pitch pine leaning over a scarp and exhibiting woodpecker damage. She said the plan would “flush cut” the tree, leave the root mass in place to biodegrade over time and plant deep-rooted native shrubs — including black huckleberry and switchgrass — to stabilize the bank.

At least one neighbor, speaking at the hearing, urged caution. A resident asked whether removing the tree would eliminate roots that are currently holding the slope and said replacement vegetation could not grow fast enough to prevent collapse in the near term. "Taking out that tree, no matter what you plant, the roots that you plant are not gonna grow fast enough for that area to not keep falling," the resident said.

Sprague responded that the plan seeks a controlled removal to reduce the risk of an uncontrolled fall and subsequent greater bank damage. "If we cut this tree... we relieve the weight from the tree, and we plant around it, so eventually ... the vegetation that we do plant has an opportunity to get established," she said.

Commission members acknowledged the trade-off between the tree’s current root anchoring and the hazard posed by its leaning trunk. The board signaled general support for the approach but — citing a standard delay period — voted to continue the hearing and asked staff to draft an order for review at the next meeting.

Action and next steps: The Commission moved to continue the matter and directed staff to prepare a draft permit and conditions reflecting the Commission’s concerns about minimizing disturbance and specifying the replacement planting. The hearing will return for formal action after staff drafting.