Trees - Myths vs. Facts
Our beautiful Village trees are one feature that distinguishes our neighborhood from many others. Many residents were disappointed to learn that some trees in the right of way will need to be removed when our roads are rebuilt. This post will address some questions and misconceptions regarding the trees and the Roads project.
Which trees are candidates for removal?
Trees that MAY be removed when the roads are rebuilt are those that are too close to the street to allow removal of the curbs and/or existing pavement, and installation of new curbs, new edge drains and new pavement in the Roads project.
· Some have said ALL the trees in the “right of way” will be removed. This is false.
· ONLY trees that are in the right of way – between the sidewalk and the street - are candidates for removal. The right of way and the trees in it are owned by the Road Commission. Trees on the street side of the sidewalk are the only ones that would interfere with the construction process and thus are the only ones that would be candidates for removal.
· The Road Commission estimates that 42 trees in the Pink section would need to be removed (out of 301 Pink section right of way trees), and 50 trees in the Blue section (out of 219 Blue section right of way trees).
Who decides if a tree needs to be removed?
The Road Commission will determine which trees are too close to the street to allow construction. At this point, the Road Commission has estimated how many trees in the pink and blue sections would need to be removed. The specific trees to be removed have not been determined. The determination and marking of specific removals will happen closer to the time construction will begin.
The Road Commission has emphasized that they will only remove trees that must be removed to allow construction of the new roads. The decision to remove is about the construction process, and whether it can be completed without removing a tree.
What if the tree is in the front yard, but the canopy hangs over the road?
If the canopy is in the way of construction equipment, the limbs in question would be trimmed back. The Road Commission has told us that this is not a common situation, but the solution is to trim the limbs back, not to remove the tree. Residents concerned about their trees overhanging the road may elect to have the limbs trimmed back by their own tree service prior to any road construction.
Can the Road Commission remove a tree in my front yard?
No. Trees that are in front yards (not in the right of way) belong to the property owner – the Road Commission has no jurisdiction over those trees and could not remove them without the property owner’s permission.
What about trees in the right of way in front of my house that are already dead or close to it – can those be removed before road construction for my section?
Residents can request the Road Commission to remove a dead, dying or dangerous tree from the right of way, regardless of whether there is road construction. Contact the Road Commission using the “Report an Issue” on the Road Commission website, www.rcocweb.org. The Road Commission does remove dead trees at their cost (and on their timetable); however, they do not grind the stump.
What about replacements for the trees being removed?
The Village Board has established a Tree Committee, under the leadership of Brian Kott, to investigate and organize a program to help defray the cost of replacing trees that are removed during the Roads project. The Committee will research grant funding that may be available, and suggest a program structure. We anticipate that tree planting could begin in Spring 2025 (assuming the pink/blue section roads are rebuilt during the summer 2024 construction season).
The SavATree study completed in 2022 included identified locations for new trees, and also suggestions for species of trees that should be considered for a reforestation effort. SavATree’s recommendations will be helpful as we establish a program for replacement of trees removed during the Roads project.
