Trees are recognized as an asset to the community, providing
a more healthful and beautiful environment in which to live. Trees
and other vegetation provide oxygen, shade, protection from wind,
glare, noise and provide natural privacy to neighbors, wildlife habitat,
aesthetics and a priceless psychological counterpoint to the man-made
setting. Preserving trees is economically beneficial in attracting
new residents, visitors and industry.
The Town recognizes that a property owner may wish to remove
a nonhazardous public shade tree. The Town of South Hadley defines
public shade trees under MGL c. 87. Public shade trees shall not be
removed other than by or on behalf of the Town. If a property owner
wishes to remove a tree that the Tree Warden does not deem a hazard,
the following steps shall be taken:
A. The property owner must submit a completed tree removal permit application
to the Tree Warden.
B. The Tree Warden shall hold a public hearing. The cost of the legal
notice for the hearing shall be paid by the property owner, unless
the Tree Warden is already posting a legal notice for the removal
of other Town trees. In this case, the property owner's tree
shall be included in the legal notice and the property owner shall
not be responsible for any portion of the cost of the notice.
C. If, at the hearing, no person objects to the removal of the tree,
the property owner shall be allowed to remove the tree. The property
owner will be responsible for all applicant responsibilities and tree
replacement requirements as described below in the nonhazardous tree
removal policy.
D. If, at the hearing, any person objects to the removal, in accordance
with MGL c. 87, the Tree Warden cannot grant approval to remove the
Town tree. The property owner may appeal to the Selectboard.
E. An appeal for removal of a tree shall be submitted to the Selectboard
in writing. The appeal shall state the reason(s) the applicant wishes
to remove the tree.
F. If the Selectboard approves the removal of the Town tree, the property
owner will be responsible for all applicant responsibilities and tree
replacement requirements as described below in the nonhazardous tree
removal policy.
Nothing contained in this policy shall prohibit the Tree Warden
from refusing to permit the removal of nonhazardous public shade trees.
The Tree Warden may refuse to grant a permit for the removal of a
nonhazardous tree if, in his or her opinion, the tree is of historic
or scenic value; is of a size or species not commonly found along
the roadways of South Hadley; has significant wildlife value; or is
an unusually healthy or significant specimen.