During Thursday’s public hearing on the fate of a mature town tree, a Honey Locust located at 125 Greenwich Avenue in front of Shreve Crump & Low, several members of the public spoke in favor of saving the tree.
The tree hearing was posted on July 12.
From the Greenwich Tree Conservancy Executive Director Kate Dzikiewicz, former director JoAnn Messina, and board chair Peter Malkin opposed cutting down the tree.
Residents Nancy Freeman and Marla Bier also urged the tree warden to rule in favor of the Honey Locust and find a workaround to spare the healthy tree.
Ms Dzikiewicz said the tree appeared in good health, and recommended root shaving and installing new concrete on top to give the tree a chance at survival.
Alternately she said the sidewalk itself could be lifted with ramps installed for pedestrians.
Third, she recommended conducting a thorough structural analysis of the tree and its root system to determine whether either of the above solutions were viable.
She said the Tree Conservancy could assist with expenses of these measures.
Brad Walker who is the manager and owner of Shreve Crump & Low said since the tree was posted for removal he had heard concerns from numerous people.
“It’s a great tree. We love it. Our security stands under it and it provides great shade for the building,” he said. “The issues of the sidewalk, for the most part, have not been too bad, have have gotten a little bit worse in certain years, and recently along with strong rains this summer it’s provided some issues.”
Mr. Walker said in the past 3 years his business had donated about $17,000 to the holiday tree lighting effort.
He requested a new tree outside the building. He said Honey Locusts have provided issues for sidewalks in towns across the country because of the habits of their root systems.
First Selectman Fred Camillo testified in favor of cutting the tree down and replacing it with as large a tree as possible.
He said that if someone tripped they could sue the town and win a settlement.
“As someone who supports the planting of trees and the efforts of the Tree Conservancy– that doesn’t change my position on this.”
“The tree has to come down. It’s causing huge liability for the town. Many people contact us about tripping or almost tripping. The sidewalk is coming up, and we also heard that when it rains water goes into Shreve Crump & Low,” Camillo said.
Marla Bier said she was a 35 year resident and the Honey Locust had been a prominent fixture on the Ave for many years.
“It’s very disconcerting to hear what is happening. I do believe that there’s got to be a safe workaround to save the tree,” she said, adding that a tree service could recommend a way to make the Shreve Crump & Low safe.
“To tear down a tree that is otherwise healthy – I don’t think it’s good,” she added. “There’s been so many changes to the Avenue – physical changes and other things that change the landscape that I don’t think are for the better.”
Ms Messina said she walked the Avenue daily and understood the issue of safety.
“The Dept of Public Works have added Belgian blocks around many of the trees on Greenwich Ave. I would venture to say that that could be a tripping issue,” Messina said.
“I have tripped over the Belgian blocks,” she added.
She added, “We also know that roots of trees assist in flooding, they don’t make it worse, so I would be very suspect if there is water going into any of the neighboring stores because of the tree.”
She urged a workaround to be achieved by the GTC working with a tree vendor.
Mr. Malkin said he and his wife, ages 90 and 87 respectively, both walk with canes and had visited the site to examine it personally.
“We do not believe this is a problem that can not be resolved without taking without taking down the tree,” he said. “We think that any elevation of the sidewalk is a lot less than the Belgian blocks.”
Second, he added, “It should be possible to have the sidewalks reconstructed so that it has a gradual rise up and over the root. That would eliminate the tripping hazard without having to take down the tree and it can be done in a way that would not even interfere, even with wheelchairs.”
Malkin described the Honey Locust as one of a small number of very important trees.
He said currently there is a temporary asphalt incline on the sidewalk that eliminates tripping altogether.
“And certainly the DPW, as skillful as in Greenwich, can come up with a gradual increase in the pavement to obviate the problem and save the tree,” he added.
Nancy Freeman also objected to the removal of the tree, saying it was sad that several mature trees had already been removed along the Avenue.
She agreed that the new Belgian blocks around tree wells were more of a trip hazard.
The town tree warden, Dr. Greg Kramer noted that per state statute, he had 3 business days to issue his written final decision.
At that point if anyone objects to the decision, they may appeal their grievance to state superior court in Stamford.
