Planning Board - Regular Meeting

I'm sitting Look at you.

All right. All right. is uh 603 and I'm going to call this public hearing to order. Uh this is the common council of city of Kingston has scheduled a public hearing on the proposed city of Kingston tree preservation ordinance. Uh we will give you 3 minutes for comment. Um, unfortunately you cannot ask questions of the council members, but if after the hearing you would like to speak with our urban forester, Brett Kempner, who is here, he'd be more than happy, as well as um our head of planning, Sue Kill. Um, all right. So, we have a couple of people that have signed up. We don't have anyone signed up on Zoom, but uh, if we can get the first speaker, please.

We're both signed up. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. If you're if you want to sign up to speak, the list is there. You have to speak. Got to sign up to speak. Anyone else want to sign up?

I'll give everyone a 30 second warning. We're approaching the Yeah, that'd be great. Thanks. Let me put another one down there just in case if you'd like to sign up just All right. The first uh speaker is Leslie Bender. You know, do you want to come up to the table? Okay. Hi everybody. Hi. Hello.

This is my first reading here and I was invited by a young woman named Abby and uh I work in Kingston and I'm here to observe but I might as well give my two cents which is that Kingston really needs trees and there's this whole area of just black talk off of you know where the Midtown post office is and stuff storage away self storage. And I've long envisioned being able to work with people to create an island with trees and um you know undergrowth. So I'm here in the hopes that I can collaborate with other people and be on a team that brings more green into Kingston. And I have to say it will fresh in the air. I mean, I'm talking to a whole bunch of people that already know this, but reduce the temperatures and bring oxygen. So, I'm a storm spur. And I'm also an artist. My studio is in a short factory.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Um, H Pelicano. Yeah. You want me to stand? Thank you. Um, it's hard for the microphone to pick up people on the side. Whoopsies. I'm so sorry. Oh, that's nice.

Um, greetings. Hello. Uh, my name is Pat. I live in Kingston. I work at the, uh, the Y fararmm. Um, yeah, I'm supportive of a tree ordinance. Um in terms of um having some consideration about you know um taking down enormous beneficial um you know functions of nature as um more research comes out. We recognize that trees not only um support the biodiversity of the area but also under the ground they're important um connectors for the environment. So, every tree gone uh and destroyed is a real tragedy. Um, and I'd like to point out two in particular that I'd like to see protected. There's one sycamore that's on Washington across from the um uh car wash place. Um, and you can see it's just like the last remaining tree in the area. And God knows what sort of connections that tree is making with the other um, you know, important connectors of the environment. low. And um also the uh there's a silver maple that's enormous behind the um it's next to the South Pine Street Community Garden, which Ben Water owns, Ben Water Company. And as far as my knowledge goes, Bin Water is under a contract to buy is um they own the land where the farm is or where the excuse me, community garden is. And uh what I've heard is that they plan to pave over the community garden with concrete as you were limiting before. So um while the community garden's fate certain behind that community garden is an enormous silver maple that um is one of these examples of a tree that is big and old and serves an enormous variety of

purposes and it's beneficial to humans and nature around it. And um yeah, before bin water or whoever else wants to cut it down to make room for trucks, it would be good to have um a council people talk about that. Thank you. Uh Elizabeth T. Collins. Hi.

I just was writing my signature. Hi, I'm Teddy Collins and I don't live in the city of Kingston, but we own property in the city of Kingston. Plan to move here. I'm on the TR tree commission. I'm on the Ster Garden Club and a member of Memorial Tree Fund. And my biggest concern after reading this, and I must admit I didn't read it word for word, but I did notice that there are restrictions on private trees on private property. And I have a big concern about that because I'm on the tree uh the tree commission and I know we're going to get some push back. Um, and I did speak to friends about this, but I just want to bring that forward that I think that's going to be a concern of many people because can they afford to take down like can they afford to replace a tree if they need to take down a tree say if they want to put an addition? I realize there are going to be exceptions for certain kinds of trees um if they're dead or if they're invasive. Um, and I and I believe in trees. I mean, I'm on the tree commission and I love trees, but I do understand that, you know, there are folks that this might be uh tough for them if they if they need to do things um on their own property and that also people will just say, "Well, it's my property. Why can't I do anything?" And yet um so I think it's we need to educate the people to understand how important trees are, but we also have to understand that sometimes people need new things on their property. So that's my big concern. And I just want to put it out there.

Thank you. All right. Um, that was the last person that has signed up. Is there anyone else here that would like to speak? I'll maybe have my two cents. Sure. Sorry. I'm Dave Lard. We own a property on Gil Street. Um, I'm sorry. Could you just repeat your name? Sorry. David Lard. Okay.

We own a property on Gil Street. We've not living there. haven't been kind of story for the last seven years and we planted some nice trees. We planted some nice bur oak trees and I kind of like some legal protection. So when I pass away, you know, the next people who take over the property just can't chop the trees down which you know which which I hope to be there for the next couple of hundred years. So I think protection for trees is a good idea. So that's my two central gift. Thank you. Anyone else?

I know Leo West from King or um I prepared to say anything but uh as an environmentalist and a forer and loving trees and knowing trees. Um, I'm call for an ordinance to protect as many trees as possible and keep them healthy. We are we have a lot of old huge trees here that are getting to the end of their lifespans and we need to make sure that we continue to repopulate the arrange. So, let's protect our trees and our environment, please. Thanks.

Thank you. Is there anyone else that would like to speak in favor or against the proposed tree ordinance? I might want to get up.

Sorry. Sorry. Um nothing is prepared, but I just was curious um walking in here as to who makes the decisions on what trees need to come down that aren't healthy. Uh also, um could an owner bring a lawsuit uh against trees coming their trees coming down. Um, and who would be paying for the removal of the trees? And then would the city come around at some point the following year, whatever, um, to replant to to, you know, offer a tree? I know they've done that before.

Thank you, Pat. So, we cannot answer questions in the public hearing. So, we're just taking comments, but after we are finished, you missed my little speech. Oh, that's okay. Where I said we couldn't answer questions during this form format, but after the public hearing, you can speak with our urban forester, Brett, who's here. Okay. Okay. All right. Good. Sorry. No. Great. Thank you. Okay. Anyone else like sorry Mr. Be I and I won't um speak long because I don't I'm sure people already covered all the bases but I just want to speak in favor of the ordinance. Um Baker your name

uh Chris Baker. I'm a Port resident of uh King business owner and I'd like to um say support a tree ordinance. It seems very common sense and as you move forward into a time of climate uncertainty, trees are an amazing ally for the whole community. So as a public resource for everybody, I think it makes sense for it to be more of a public decision when older trees are removed. Thank you. Anyone else? Could I ask a question? Oh, let me just I have to close the public hearing and then um it was up to one of the speakers.

Okay. Yes. I can't we can't answer questions during public hearing, but I'm going to close the public hearing and then you may ask. Okay. Anyone else would like to speak or against the public the tree ordinance? Uh let's say this three times. Anyone else uh would like to speak for or against the tree ordinance? And last call for speaking for or against the tree ordinance. Yeah, somebody submitted this letter. We have Yeah, we don't we don't understand it. Thank you. Um Okay. So, it is 6:15 p.m. and I'm calling this public meeting hearing to a close. Thank you.

All right. Thank you everybody. So, if there's questions that you have like we're we're not in session now if you want to speak