Planning Board - Regular Meeting

All right. So, I believe we have everyone   uh that we're going to have tonight. As noted  earlier, Member Mlan will be absent this evening. So starting off the uh meeting pursuant  to legislation H62 chapter 2 of the   acts of 2025 extending the suspension of  certain provisions of the open meeting law   uh general law chapter 30A section 20. This  meeting of the Bedford Planning Board will be   conducted via remote participation  to the greatest extent possible.   No inperson attendance of members of the public  will be permitted, but every effort will be made   to ensure that the public can adequately ac  access access the proceedings in real time via   technological means. In the event that we are  unable to do so despite best efforts, we will   post on the town's website an audio or video  recording, transcript, or other comprehensive   record of proceedings as soon as possible  after the meeting. And do we have Bedford TV? They're here. They're here. Okay. So,  this evening in the development session,   we had scheduled a public hearing for the  definitive subdivision plan at 145 Davis   Road off of Jeffrey Circle, off of Jeffrey  Circle. Uh we did receive notice of a request   uh to uh to postpone. I'm in the business  session in the business session. I'm just   liaison updates. I'm from boards and  committees and staff updates and minutes   uh approval. So I'm first order of business  returning to the development session. Um,  

do we have a motion to continue the hearing to  uh May 12th? So moved. Seconded. Second. Second. Not sure who won that. Give it to Todd.  Okay. I am. So, how do you vote? Don. Hi. Hi,   Todd. Hi. Steve I and the chair votes eye.  So public hearing is continued to May 12th.   So with that moving on to the uh business  session. I'm I did have some charts related to the tree preservation law. I'm uh by law that  I had noted in our previous meeting. I Todd,   did you also have um some materials  on sidewalk clearing? I do. Um yeah,   if there's time, I'd love to go through  them just to get some feedback from   you guys in terms of it's mainly just  information and thoughts. Um yeah, I'm I'm four minutes in and already  to uh leaison reports. I'm Why   don't we go through those since that's  what's on uh on the agenda next? Um,   uh, staff updates and I I think we can we uh  call the uh Todd and my presentations part of liaison uh updates.

So we can Yeah, we can do that or we can do  it under staff reports. Staff reports. Yeah.   as well because not like we got a lot of material  other than it's all it's all stuff we're working   on. Yeah. All right, let's do that. All right,  so um board and committee uh reports anyone. Well, if no one else park is um if you go by  there, you'll notice the building is totally   gone. It's just exposed dirt right now. and  uh we're hiring a architecture of some type   or the landscape or whatever to come up with  proposed uh what to do with it. There's simple   ones just make it grass, maybe put in some  sidewalks and bike racks, but just to be   uh efficient and since we had some money uh we're  hiring somebody um don't know what the next step,   you know, that happens when there'll be  something to discuss. I'll get, you know,   who knows? Get back to you. Nothing  special on consum. Okay, very good. Anything? Uh, not much report actually.  Uh, TAC and back meet next week. So,   um, right. I think I think that's  true. Uh, yeah, joint meeting. So,   um, looking forward to that. Um, did want to shout  out thank you all for all the material. Tony in in   the sink vault. Um there's some interesting  articles about housing and potential ways to   fix the housing crisis in Massachusetts and  or not. Um just some good material there.

All right. Going once, going twice. Don, um  I'm just wondering I was not able to go to   the comprehensive plan event on the 18th. I'm  just wondering if anybody went to that. Anyone   who's here? I was not able to that either. I  was not either. No. Sorry. Weekends are tough.   Yeah. Yeah. So we we had uh the second of the  three workshops on Sunday the 8 no Saturday   18th. Um I I will say the highlight for me  was um Sharon McDonald singing as part of   her introductory comments with a song about the  Bedford flag in history. And it was it was quite   entertaining as she as she always can be. So  um uh the discussions were very productive.   Um the um as I said in my preview the me  the the crowds might have been the crowds   the attendance might have been smaller than  we had hoped for but the but the participants   uh had some very good dialogue and the uh feedback  is going to be used with um the advisory committee   will meet next I believe on May 21st to revise  the draft strategies based on that feedback. But um yeah, overall the uh  al all all six workshops I  

thought were were highly productive. So excellent. No, I I attended  one uh that was on the well,   it's going back on the 12th and felt  that was productive as a participant. Um I neglected to mention there  was a uh community preservation   committee uh meeting a week ago. Um I  was late uh joining um but there was   a discussion of the multi-purpose uh  pavilion project um bid results and um bids coming in a bit higher than anticipated  and I'm looking for a very small amount of   money to cover the difference. I'm not  enough that there was in intent to go   back to town meeting but there was just  some logistics to work of that. I I yeah   again not enough to merit going back to town  meeting but needed to u get everyone's buy   in that uh drawing on funds from from other  uh other town sources would be acceptable. Um, all right. I'm staff updates and then we  can go to uh minutes approval actually. Yeah. So, I I don't actually have any  minutes for you to Sorry. Yeah. But uh on the  

on the staffing front, I will say we uh I've  identified six to eight candidates for each   of the vacant positions that um um I'm just also  waiting for Eric to finish his um his review of   the applications because we're brought, you know,  we've broadened the positions to help with with uh   the housing housing and economic development uh  needs as well. So um and then so hopefully we'll   be working with our HR department to start those  interviews uh in a week or so. Uh Tony, does it   is it going to address the energy portion at all?  Um the upcoming Yeah. We've we've agreed to take   on some of the energy and sustainability roles  that the um that the position was not able to   um you know the original position description  u was so broad that they one person couldn't do   everything that was desired. So, uh, we we believe  there's there was enough capacity within our   department working with our building inspectors  across the hall that we could pick up a lot of the   private commercial and residential um goals from  that from that to-do list. And then um facilities   will cover the energy and sustainability issues  that the prior incumbent had been doing on the   municipal projects, but he was so um tied up in  the municipal projects that we weren't really able  

to give any assistance to the residents. So um so  we've we've figured out that we can do that. So, and and there several several of the applicants  cover letters are actually quite enthusiastic   about trying to get into that role. So,  we'll we'll see how they we'll see how   it plays out through the interview process, but  uh looking looking forward to get to try to get   that underway. um and and maybe even finish during  the month of May. So, we'll see where we end up. Steve, go ahead. Uh I'm following on Tony's  comment. Uh it's great you have that many quality   applicants. In your unofficial comment, is Bedford  considered a an especially good place to work for   planning or is it just cuz there's a a situation  of what's the current marketplace or is it because   you're so famous that they all want to come  here? It's somewhere in there. I know. Yeah. Um Yeah. maybe some combination of those things.  Um, part of me says it's the market. Um,   part of me will I will also say that among  the applicants for the what's effectively   the administrative position, but given its  new title, I think some of the applicants   didn't read the actual job description and  and assumed that position might be more

that it might have more status than they're  than they're anticipating. And then, you know,   and then we have one or two applicants  with PhDs who in near as I can tell are,   you know, fishing for for for job security, not  necessarily for what it is we do. And um but um yeah, as I there were, as I noted before,  there were 40ome applicants for one of the   jobs and about 30 for the other. So um but it,  you know, it varies based on the economy. So,   I've, you know, in in my prior lives,  I've had as few as 12 applicants for   an assistant planner and and I've had 140  applicants for an assistant planner. So,   you know, somewhere it'll take that breadth of of  difference and and um it it it can depend upon how   strong the economy is at the time and opening  occurs. But we will um this is there are um at   least on paper there are several qualified  candidates for each each of the positions. Bod, go ahead. Uh, just a  quick question for Tony. Is,   uh, is there word on when Mr. Laskkey is retiring? Um, is he not retired? No, he's he's he's  already retired. He retired. I am very   sad. I actually did not realize  that, obviously. Yeah. Yeah. So   he is continuing to help out one day a  week. Okay. During a transition period,

but um yeah, Catherine and uh Chris Laskkey  retired within a day of each other. Oh,   was it kind of a joint get together at town hall?  No, there were two there were two separate Oh,   man. things. Yeah, I miss I miss Joas.  And for the benefit of those watching on   YouTube at some point in the future, Chris  Laskkey is or was building inspector. Yeah. And in my opinion, he worked really well with  his EVA, so he was always extremely helpful. Yeah. And I enjoyed working with  Chris. We had we had a very good   uh in my I thought we had a very good  working relationship. So it was um you know sometimes you get into some  of those gray areas and talking out   you know talking through an interpretation  uh was always was always was always good. which it seems like Massachusetts is trying  to get rid of that gray areas in my opinion. We'll see. The state is is slowly eroding  our ability to control what happens. Oh,   some of us would say that it's an appropriate  rebalancing of state and local authority. All right. Um I varying opinions on that on that development.  Let's see. Uh Todd, would you like to share your   materials? Shall I go first? I think we're we're  definitely not short on time. Yeah. Uh I don't  

mind. I can go first. Um I can I share? You can  do it now. All right. Excellent. Let's see here.   the button here. And this is the one I want.  Okay. All right. Let's see. My screen's a bit small. I'll do my best I can  out of the way here. All right. Hopefully that   works. Is that working? All right. Yeah. So, I  just been collecting data. Um, and this is not   what I would present at the end if if if ever  presented, but because it's a lot of data. Um, uh, but this comes from, well, I don't  remember. Um, I can't remember if it's   Massachusetts or Bedford's website, but I'm pretty  sure it's Massachusetts website. Um, so you know,   why is snow removal important for sidewalks?  Timely clearing of sidewalks, accessible routes,   uh, safety, independence. Let me move this up  here. There we go. That's better. Um, and then   if people do have mobility impairments, obviously  snow can make significant um, obstacles. There's   always ice as well. Um, blind, if people are  blind, it's a whole another challenge as well. Um and then if they are forced to go into  the street, it's even worse. Um so idea   is to try and keep people on sidewalks.  Um if it's not done in a timely manner,   then you can have injuries. So um kind of  important to keep sidewalks clean in the winter. All right. So the state law indicates

um that municipalities can delegate snow removal  to property owners um homeowners and businesses.   So um state law indicates that um adopting the  ordinance by laws recording sorry requiring   clearing side recogn time frame. Okay. So um  yeah this is all from chapter 40 section 213. Um,   the Massachusetts state law indicates that  the maximum penalty that a town can um impose   on a homeowner is $10 for each violation. Um,  that's in a town. In cities, it can be $50. Um,   that's the maximum. Um and uh and obviously  just a just a side note, municipalities are   not responsible ever for clearing personal  property like you know cars, patios, stoops. Um again this comes from mass.gov/ snow.  Um and you know these words are are quoted   um and they they indicate um even if it's  not required, please clear the sidewalks.   So, strong words um to try and keep it safe, but  those are the wording on messages as the website. Okay, so Bedford's winter operations currently  um and these I have a couple links here that I   found the information from um and  important parts from this. Sorry,   just trying to get things out of the way here.  Let me get rid of this. There you go. Okay.   um you know when all roads are clear and then the  town will start clearing sidewalks in the Minaman   bikeway which makes sense. Obviously the roads are  number one in pri priority. Um but again from from   Bedford's website they make an effort to have all  sidewalks cleared within 3 days after a storm. So   that is the requirement they've put on them  themselves. Um however it's also important to  

note that if another store storm happens in that  time everything gets reset. they gota go back on   the roads that further priorities. Um and then  if there's any other issues as well, you know   that that they're gonna have to fix things and  everything. So, they do the best they can. I think   they they do a good job. Um but that that's what  they indicate right now. Uh give me one second   here. Okay. Yeah. So, this is actually an updated  map that um Janette uh got me um which I just   thought was very interesting is that we actually  have, you know, a lot of miles of sidewalk,   nearly 44 miles of of town sidewalk. Um and that  currently Bedford um plows, you know, just over   half, I guess. Yeah. 54%. So, 23.6 miles. um that  is what they are um that's it indicate they do   but again within 72 hours. So there's still you  know just under half that aren't touched at all   um by Bedford um and especially with this winter  with how rough it was. I I I felt especially near   Town Center um especially like South Road um even  Fletcher um it was it was rough. Uh, I don't think   they're able to keep up with it completely due  to the amount of snow. Um, I've been trying to   search through and find out what Massachusetts  has, um, what towns and cities have bylaws about   snow removal. Um, these are the ones that I've  quote unquote confirmed so far. Um, and sort of   their stipulations that they have um, terms of  within 24 hours. Some are less than 24 hours,   some are 10 hours. Um, but that's kind of all the  statutes they have. Um, but you'll notice I think  

I actually didn't look. I I'm not familiar with  Adams. Um, but I believe these are all cities. Um,   I don't know if any are towns or not. Um, just get  a feeling for there are a bunch of towns that have   it and I'm still searching through to see if there  are more. Um, and then I just mention there's an   exemption. There are exemptions that certain towns  like Watertown offers. Um, seniors or residents   with financial health constraints. Um, and some  some cities have like 311 reporting systems   um for issues active, you know, to report issues  with sidewalks. It was really neat. Um, Bed,   sorry, Massachusetts used to have this sidewalk  snow removal map. Um, this was taken I found it on   internet. does not exist anymore from everything  I can tell. Um, which was really a bummer. Um,   so this is an old picture. I don't know if it  was 2017. I can't remember. I I'll get that to   see if there was. Um, I searched and searched and  searched and if anybody has information, it seems   like there's a G uh I apologize. I can't remember  the name, but there's some sort of GIS website you   can sign up for to get some information, but I  couldn't. one, you can get a free account, but I   couldn't search the Massachusetts stuff that I was  looking for. Couldn't find sidewalks on it. Don't   know if there was anything um if there is anything  that is still available. Like I said, this was,   you know, this was kind of captured somewhere on  the internet. Um it was just a a picture. It was   not interactive. Um but it's kind of fascinating  to see, you know, most of the red is no. There's a   bunch of blue yeses. I just don't I don't think  this is very current. So, I don't know what   you know what is current not I'm going to kind  of keep trying to investigate that investigate   that and see if I can get more information  on this um because obviously there's a lot a   lot of blue which is yes to indicate there was a  decent amount more than just cities that had this

um okay so I kind of went through this a  little bit before can take up okay so v50   they indicate they can take up to three days to do  the clear sidewalks um and I think it makes sense,   you know, not trying to increase the number of  DPW employees or anything. Um, in my opinion, uh,   messages current winter 72 hours can be too long  with warm cold cycles, so freezing and thawing and   then freezing again. Um, so in my opinion, it's  much better if it's removed within 24 hours. Um,   and especially near the schools. Um, and you know,  I've talked to various parents around town and and   seems like there's a bunch of grand men in terms  of, you know, school kids safety. It's like, well,   just just delay school more and and not have  school for multiple days. And I yes, that's   obviously an option, but as a parent, I rather  not have that. I'd rather have the kids in school   because it's always better to get school done  earlier than trying to wait until June because   yeah, I don't think that works as well. Um, so  not trying to put anything more on a DPW. So   my proposal um is well like to see interest gauge  interest of this in terms of requiring home owners   businesses to clear sidewalks on honor chase to  their property within 24 hours of a conclusion   of a storm and then $10 fine per incident if not  cleared. Um I was con wondering considering cuz   I've had various discussions around town different  uh residents in terms like does it make sense to   only apply it in certain residential zones? Um  you know aka closer to town center zones or is   that a terrible idea? Um I I don't know. Um you  know not sure um but but my goal is is not to   penalize people. That's not what I want to do.  I just want to get the sidewalks cleared and I   would love to make a have talk neighbors talk to  each other. make a plan. I mean, I think I should   look go back to map. A lot of sidewalks are on  one side of the street versus both. And myself,   if we ever do something like this, I'm going to  go to my neighbors right away and say, "Listen,   if I'm not home, if it's not done, can can you  help out? Can you try and do I know I have I have  

I should look 150 ft or so of sidewalk in front  of my house. My plan is to do it. I do it all the   time, but I'd like to talk to my neighbors. Hey,  can you help out?" You know, and then and then I   know there's some elderly uh individuals close  to me. I'd like to talk to them and trying to   help them out, you know. Um and and so like make  a plan to work together. I don't know if we could   do anything with the town website or use Facebook  to help coordinate. Um I did look Somerville has   this teen shoveling program. Um which I think I  have. No, sorry. I think it's Yeah. Uh not that   there's much information here, but essentially  teens can sign up for it and homeowners can sign   up for it and it coordinates them to do to help  out. Um, it is like $25 or something a storm. So,   it wasn't wasn't inexpensive. Um, but it was  a way that teens can make money and it's a   way they can get it done, especially if people  don't have time or not around or whatever. So,   I thought that was an interesting program that I  found that that's still that's still in existence.   Um, but just going back to the residential, you  know, I don't know if it makes sense, you know,   to do like res and is that a terrible idea?  I I don't know. Um um so that's where I'm at   right now. Still trying to gather information. Um  but I I did want to just kind of gauge interest.   The individuals I've talked to in town um to me,  the ones I've talked to have been mostly positive   about this in terms of like this is a good idea.  We'd like to see the sidewalks done. Um and would   like to help out and not put more burden on on the  town DPW. Um yeah. Thoughts, questions, comments? Yeah, I think it's a fine idea to pursue. I'd probably because we're on a pretty big  road and the plows put a fair amount. We'd be  

obligated to clear, but I would plan accordingly.  Do you try to keep up with it yourself in general?   What? The sidewalk? Yeah. Oh, no. No. Okay.  Okay. So, town is usually by within 24 hours,   but yeah, it's not heavily trafficked in the  winter. Interesting. Okay. Yeah. I don't know   where you live. Um I find and I'm on Springs.  I'm pretty close to Town Center in my opinion.   It is not within 24 hours of my in in my  yard. And to be honest, I preferred to do   it first anyways because I don't like how  they do it. Um, but a lot of people use our pretty good. Steve, please go ahead. The uh  I'm trying to follow on the the teen help in   Somerville and those of you with kids school can  correct me on this. I got the impression that uh   juniors and seniors in high school are supposed  to do some amount of community service. Yes. You   know, and this seemed like this could be an ideal  candidate if they're trying to struggle to find   other things. I know we've had we've had a couple  come and work at our place as part of community   service. So, I I think it'd be great to follow  that up. We check with the principal at the high   school and say, "What do you think?" Oh, it's a  great idea. Um I think it's I can't remember if   it's 30 or 40 hours, but yeah. Yeah. I I don't  know what it is, but it's required. Even a win   like this last one, they could have gotten their  30 40 hours pretty easy and gotten in good shape.   Ben, I I'd like to suggested addition. Uh could  you add bus stop shelters because along where  

you don't have to shovel the shelter itself. You  just got to be able to get from the shelter to the   road so you can get on the bus. Yeah. And through  winter you can go through particularly at the main   intersection in town road and 62 and you watch  people standing in the street because they can't   get to shelter. And the same thing with multiple  shelter. the one down by CVS. Some people finally,   you know, I think they just wore boots and kicked  up an opening so they could get to the bus. It'd   be great if we could add that to the list. And  whether that could also be teens, you know,   adopt your own bus stop, shelter, and get credit  or DPW. But your list of people that need this,   again, these are people that work in town but  don't live in this town or live here but work   elsewhere as well as handicap people, let's just  say of lesser means and don't own a car. So,   if possible, if you could weave in bus stop  shelters. Yeah, I think it'd be a good addition.   We finally got the town to agree to put up I think  three new shelters. So, this part comes with it.   Thank you. No, thank you. That's a very good idea.  Um I was trying to look I I could look through the   um flyer. Um I don't know if they actually  explicitly mentioned bus shelters,   which is kind of fascinating. Sorry, I'm  just looking to see if there is. Yeah,   I thought I had a flyer thing, but anyways,  I'll Yeah, I'll look into that. Thanks. Uh any other thoughts or feeling? Cool. Thanks. Thanks,  guys. Yeah, if we didn't say it,   say it. Good work. Thank you.  So, would this be a general?

I believe so. Yes, Tony. Yeah, this is this would not be a  zoning by this would be general. Thank you. All right. So with that I  will share my pre-proction. Would you mind giving to him? We got I  apologize. Sorry. I thought it was Sorry. All right. So, expanding a bit on material from our last meeting. Um big picture  goal is to encourage preservation and protection   of ch trees during uh this is on on private  property during um largecale demolition or   construction uh events. And for tonight just  a planning board u discussion um get some   general a general sense of whether people  feel this is worth pursuing. you know what   uh next steps would be. Um you know identify um  people or groups to invite to future meetings. Um   obviously our resources would be you know high  on that list but potentially others as well. You I've looked at conquered and Arlington's  tree protection bylaws. I conquered I just felt  

was it was easier for me to to read through  it and feel like I you know picked up all the   essential elements to it and more just a writing  style than than anything else. So, links to um   to the bylaw and then they have a a frequently  asked questions PDF um which I I found useful.   Basically, it's about protecting trees above a  certain diameter within uh a lot's setback area. So they would designate areas of a  lot where trees would be protected   and require some form of mitigation um if  trees were uh removed u within a year of   uh a uh renovation or uh construction project.  So from their frequently asked questions I'm   yeah can I still cut down trees if on my  property? Yes you can. I'm the criteria   for the preservation bylaw coming into effect  is the size of the structure being demolished.   So yeah, I'm substantially larger than for example  a shed. I'm construction of a a building on a   vacant lot or adding significantly and conquered  they chose increase of the the floor area 50%. And  

those would all trigger the uh uh the bylaw  uh protections. And important to note that if there is no if you cut down  a tree and then there's no   uh demolition or major construction within  a year bylaw does not apply um shorter   period than that and then it's considered  associated with that construction event. So again uh drawing on some material from  their frequently asked questions page. Yeah they identify and thought  this is a useful sketch. They uh   identify the setback areas on the lot and  then give a couple of of examples. uh if   tree is not within the the setback uh area  then it is not a protected tree and if it is   within the setback area then it is it also has  to be over 6 in in diameter at chest height. So if there is a tree that um that a property  owner is considering uh removing um and   uh doing so in association with a construction  project then their options are to do nothing to   preserve it that is um to replant um to replant  and pay into a mitigation fund or just straight   up pay uh into that mitigation fund. Um, sorry.  Yes, go ahead. I just understand the replant   and pay versus replant, right? So, yes, I'm  I'm getting to that here. Okay. Sorry. No,  

no, that's great segue. Um, so with a preserve  approach, you simply modify your project so that   you don't cut down the protected tree. the replant  option count up the uh the diameters of the the   total diameter of the trees uh to be removed. Um  and then they have a a replant ratio half an inch   replacement for each inch removed. So here uh  they gave an example um three replacement trees   um 3 in uh diameter. So 9 in um replaced um and  the 1/2 in replacement for per 1 inch removed.   So take that 9 in divide it multiply it by two  you come up with 18 which matches the amount   um removed. So in this case there is no need to  uh to do further mitigation um replant or or to uh   to pay into the mitigation fund. So the other uh  another option was uh to do the replant and pay.   So, imagine taking out an 8 18inch diameter  tree and if they planted one 4-in caliper   uh diameter tree uh to replace, then um you'd need  another 10 in of diameter in order to meet the   requirements of the protection bylaw. Here they  had uh Concrete has established a $375 per inch   uh mitigation fee. So they were short  in this in in this example by 10 inches   um diameter. So they would the property  owner would have to pay into the fund  

uh 30 $3750. And then the last option, I'm  simply cut a cut a check, pay cash, gold bullion,   what have you. I'm 18 in cut, 375 per inch,  and you're at 6750 into the mitigation fund. So a thought, yeah, do we like this approach?  You know, conquered chose particulars.   Do we like the particulars that uh  uh that Conquered picked? I I would   like to get Bark's opinion on this.  I see what they think, but would like   us to put a little thought into before uh  before we involve Bark in the discussion. Chris, in in the plant, um, they  included trees that are have the   three inches instead of limiting it to 6 in  and over. Is that right? Yeah. And actually,   um, replanting large well larger trees  are very expensive and also they don't   take as well. Um 3 in is really um kind of a  sweet spot in terms of you know maturity and   um getting the root system to uh to establish  in a a relatively short period of time. Okay. Once upon a time I was a member of park so I have  paid attention to this for for a little while.   Um, let's see. Todd, Steve. Yeah, I mean, kind  of anecdotally, but we we redid our complete yard   and we planted some trees as well, and and that  sweet spot was around 3 in to to make sure that  

they would stay and and to thrive and not be too  large. Um, uh, the only thing I was curious, well,   one thing I was curious about was, um, I don't  know, the condition of the tree. So, you know,   is there is there something to be made where it's  like, yeah, this 18inch tree, but it is dying,   right? It is, you know, um, and is there anything  with that or so, Conquer had nothing about that?   Uh, I will look into that. Okay. I was just  curious. It's a, you know, it's kind of I   don't know, maybe getting into the weeds a little  bit, but um, but I will say overall I like this. I   like that it's in the setbacks. Um, yeah, I I I  like where it's going. Um, yeah. I also want to   I need to look into uh what their policy is with  respect to invasive species. I if someone wants to   cut in a cut down a 12-in diameter Norway maple,  you know, more power to them from my perspective. Uh, sorry, Steve, please go ahead.  Um, I'm on the uh the nay side.   Uh I'm opposed to any fees on cutting down  trees. I think that someone tried to get   this through town meeting and then the north road  work that was done up on that Y would have cost   the town about $4,000 in tree removal. So you're  you're taxing yourself and making the town pay   it because it's on public land. Yeah. I I don't  the in general though a little context because   I've been on consom for like forever I don't know  15 20 years we deal with trees you know at least   every other meeting and the diff um these are  trees that should get cut but they're because  

they're in a either in a wetland or where it  depends on what people are on the commission   which then also for whatever you come up with.  Who's making these decisions? You get a couple   people that are I will you I don't want it to be a  sound as but if they're tree huggers and they say,   "Well, no, leave those trees up. We don't care.  Insects like them." And the owner saying, "I got   little kids. It's going to fall on my kids."  And we've had to craft a dangerous tree thing,   but how you interpret dangerous tree depends on  who's on the commission. And there's people that,   let's just say, have had to leave trees and then  I would get a private call and they say, "Steve,   what am I going to do?" And I says, "You do it  on a Saturday." And you don't tell anybody and   they're gone. And then your family's safe and you  hope nobody rats you out to the commission. But   and that's the problem at Kim. It's it used to be  handled quite maturely at KSCOM. It not lately.   And the uh that's why I'm opposed to this policy.  I guess writ large I'm opposed. For me, this is   a solution looking for a problem. The town has  about 20% of its land mass in conservation areas,   which means all those trees are protected. You  know, on my own land, I probably got I've got   multiple thousands of trees. What are you talking  about here as far as in in the next five years,   would you be protecting 20 trees, 25  trees? It's not relevant. I know people,   you could do the calculations on what's a tree  do for carbon dioxide, this and that. I've been  

through all the calculations more than once. I'm  in my opinion this is adding a regulation and a   bylaw that the town does not need. It is not  going to help protect any sufficient numbers   of trees to make more than a minuscule amount  of difference. The town has tens of thousands   if not more than that trees because of the  amount of conservation le we have. And third,   as planning board, we're supposedly and the state  is trying to push more housing. Making anything   more difficult is not something we need. And  I don't think the benefits of whatever trees   you're going to save are worth it in particular if  there's a fine. So, yes, I'm I'm opposed to this.   You you could assume I'm going to speak against it  at town meeting. And I' I've let's just say I've   dealt with Park. I know you're on it. They're well  intended. Um I watched select board have to chew   out BART publicly and saying like come on guys  then what in the heck did they and I found out   what was done. So anyways I think we shouldn't  this is a we don't have a problem here that's   measurable. You don't try to solve something  you can't even measure. are such a tiny thing.   That's why I'm opposed to this and not care what  the other towns are doing and absolutely opposed   to any fines because they'll end up hitting the  town cost. That's my long speech and I'll be quiet   now for at least 30 seconds. And just to clarify,  this is not applying to town property. This would   be on residential lots. Well, well, yeah, but  that's who comes before concom also. And Steve,  

let me finish please. Yeah. Okay. So, and and  also to be clear, this is only associated with   construction projects. This would not affect  tree cutting uh independent of of construction. This is points of clarification.  Don, please go ahead. Um well addressing some some points similar  to to Steve's I would want to know um what   kind of an impact this would be expected to  have you know how much what is the problem   and how much would this proposal address the  problem I think one of in looking at tree   clearing because you know previously most of  the discussion townwide has been on the public   shade trees front and you and then we look and  then a lot of the tree removal is, you know,   clear cutting stuff. So, the public shade  trees aren't going to change that at all. Um,   I'm intrigued by this proposal in terms of the  setbacks. Um, but I guess I would just still   want a little something both a little bit more  analytical about these are how many you know go   in a year. This is how many would be protected  by this policy you know making a difference   of what have you. And I was also wondering if  conquered I think is the example whether they   offered any rationale for the um com the numbers  they came up with you know how they determined co   you know what's an appropriate fee and what's  an appropriate size and and all that. I'd be  

curious to know if there's any documentation  on that. So, in terms of quantification, um,   what what where are you at with what would  it take to convince you that it's worthwhile? I'm not I'm not sure yet. I'm not sure  yet. It's um I understand the impulse. Um,   and one thing I didn't think about until Steve  said his part is that how are we going to enforce   this? there. I think there was a little sentence  at the bottom of one of the things about if you   do it and don't construct anything in like 12 to  18 months, you're good. Who's counting? You know,   you know, how do how do we how do we enforce that?  how and I would hate to see people get into a   uh systematic approach of, you know, doing it  on a Saturday and hoping your neighbors don't   rat you out kind of thing or doing it one day and  hoping your neighbors aren't counting one month,   two month, three months. Um, so it's I I'm  I'm intrigued by it. I am not yet convinced   that it solves a problem. And um and like I  said, I I would I would want to see something   more substantial like number-wise, like where  where did these numbers come from? And numbers,   you mean uh the the the reimbursement? The the  reimbursement's part of it. Um I understand I've   heard a lot of the size numbers before. That  seems to be pretty typical best practice from   what I from what I gather. But you know, how  How much of how big a problem is tree loss I   guess is part of the question. Yeah. And I  think I would uh look at it I I think that  

um many of the comments are driven by aesthetic  and privacy concerns. Um I would say also   um yeah urban heat island effects are  something to be taken seriously. Um, pvious surface is isn't uh the right  term, but u infiltration of of storm   water and the extent to which there's a benefit  um brought about by uh trees and shrubs. That's   something to consider as well. I'll take  that as a challenge to try and quantify   that. Okay. And also just in terms of how  will we know that this policy is a success? you know if we implement it and we  look back five years 10 years more   how can you know what will enable  us to say that was a good decision   that was a really good decision that's an  interesting question I think yeah I would yeah and urban heat island effects are  something that that jumps out at at me   um how you might quantify that. I  think that would be I think you'd be   challenged to do that. You know, I think  anyone even if you put a research team   on it would be challenged to do that.  So, you you'd really want to look for   uh broader evidence um that that was effective.  Um similarly regarding water infiltration   um I don't know as a local study would would  that you could actually acquire evidence to   uh prove that hypothesis that you'd have to look  more broadly but that's an interesting question.   Oh, sorry. The towns that have implemented it  have how long ago and what are they pleased  

with it? Is it So, Conquered implemented  it in 2018 and last revised it in 2021. Um, and as a good question about what they've done  to evaluate whether it's been successful or not, Todd and then Steve. Uh, yeah, a couple thoughts.  Um, it's awesome to hear different opinions and   thoughts. Um, it it's fascinating. Um, and I  and I want to bring it back to the sidewalk   session in a second, too. But it's interesting.  I I view it completely differently. I'm like,   to me, if like if we save one tree,  we won. Um, that's how I view it. Um,   and I like that it's tied to like tear  downs and stuff like that versus like,   no, you just can't cut trees down. I mean, you  know, there could be people that could clear cut,   wait one year, and then and then build a house.  Okay, if they do it, they do it. I mean, you know,   but we're trying here. And in my opinion, this is  like it could be too a little too late. You know,   we could be doing this too late, but I'm glad  we're trying and doing it. I I think that   um we're not trying to hamper homeowners. Like  in my opinion, like since it's for tear downs,   if you build a shed, you're fine. And you take  down a tree for a shed, you're fine. Um you know,   it it's it's significantly, you know, changing  your house, whatever, addition, tear downs. Like   if we save a few trees, that's wonderful in  terms of neighborhoods and everything. But I   think there's also good stuff. I think Bark could  give you lots of information in terms of the how   it helps things. I'm just extremely curious if the  town would vote this in or not. I I have no clue.   But, you know, like I I and one thing with this in  terms of the money, I assume the money goes into a   pot that's like then used for trees or used for  blah blah blah, you know, like stuff associated   with this. Um, but it's interesting like I  I saying nobody asked like well the sidewalk   clearing like what's the metrics with that? Like  do you save any lives? Nobody's gonna die. Like,   why do we have to do it, right? You know, it's  like it's just because of inconvenience. Like,  

people had to walk a little bit. Um, so it it I  guess I'm being a little facicious. It's a little   it's a little different with sidewalks because  there's a safety aspect versus trees. And in fact,   you know, Steve made a good point in terms of like  trees could be dying and it could fall and then   you're not allowed like I think you are allowed to  take it down. You're just not allowed to get well,   no, you just have to figure out what to do if  you're rebuilding the house or adding something   large. you know, it isn't that you can't take  down a tree. Um, so anyways, I don't know. I I   think it's fascinating. Um, and and good thoughts  that could help convince members of town. Um,   but myself, I'm convinced. Thank you. Steve,  please go ahead. Uh, Don's ahead of me. No, it was just your hand had remained up.  Oh. Oh, okay. Okay. So, I'll get on to a   couple other things. It's not just measurements,  but who decides when you There's trees that are   infected. I had to go through cuz I had a guy  over to cut trees. He walked me around and and   I showed me six trees and I can't remember. It  was the emerald a emerald emerald. I had six.   I had them right in a row and he showed me. See,  here they are. There's that one. There's that one.   Well, I would have had to gotten permission  and pay a licensed arborist. That's the   rules. No, when you're sc Oh, this is  conservation. That's for conservation. Wet if you're near wetland. I  was within the rain. I know,   but that is totally separate from what  we're proposing here, Steve. Yeah. I I'm   just saying it's another thing to measure. If  somebody's going to cut a tree, is it infected?   who proves that. And and this is where they  start simple and then the act people that are  

enthusiastic about it add more criteria like you  need a licensed arborist to prove it's infected   etc etc. Um I had another critical point  but I forgot what it was. Anyways, no. Yeah,   obviously I'm I'm opposed. I just don't think we  don't have a problem here. And be the positive   way I would look at this as far as construction.  There's new houses going up in town. And what do   they do the first time you get up new house? You  put in trees. You plant new trees for landscaping.   You know, that's more of a stasis, a steady  state. We're adding new trees in this town   all the time. This is just going to make life  more difficult. And it's a bylaw we don't need.   I know it's a well-intended bylaw. I appreciate  that, but I but I think I'm opposed to it and I   think it would cause more frustration among the  residents of the town than than the more than   whatever benefits it might acrue. Thank  you. Thanks for your input. Anyone else? All right. Well, I am going to run  this by bark. Um other suggestions for   uh interested parties would cons oh I remember the critical point I was going  to make. Given the wetlands in this town,   if you're within a flood plane, all your trees are  dangerous trees. Leave them up if you like them,   but you should have the right to cut them down  because, you know, the roots aren't stable.   And when we do get a I had a flood one place I  lived in this town, there was four feet of water  

in my backyard for a month. Okay. How would that  have done with those 100 foot pine trees? Yeah,   they would have they'd have blown over and  it been the end of my house. That's why it   it's like how do you get to finding a a tree  that should Anyways, I'm repeating myself.   So I I'll work on clarifying what what would be or  what conquered allows and what allows without any   uh effect of the bylaw and what is affected  because clearly that's not that's not obvious to   uh to all who are listening in. Um Don please  go ahead. Um, I would like to hear from some   towns that have that have put in policies that,  you know, the longer standing the better and,   you know, whether they've had to modify them  or whether they're pleased with the results,   whether they think it's done, you know, had any  effect. No, that's a that's a great question. All right. Um, I have nothing  further there. Closing thoughts, comments. Otherwise, I  think we are in danger of adjourning. Oh, no. Didn't quite keep it  under an hour. I apologize   for talking long. Don't think it was you, Steve. Act. All right. How do you vote? Steve, I I I  And the chair votes I 400 unanimous to adjourn.  

Have a pleasant evening and talk to you on May  12th. Bye everyone. Thanks everyone. Good night.