Trees clean the air, reduce heat effects and reduce energy usage, drain storm water and reduce flooding, sequester carbon, buffer noise, improve public health, and so much more. We advocate for green development practices that design and build around green infrastructure (trees). We protest the cutting of healthy, not-dangerous trees as damaging our community.

The applicant has requested relief from the Tree Ordinance. The landscape plan
indicates that 2,575 diameter inches of trees (over 200 trees) will be removed from the site with only 307 inches proposed to replace them. Without a waiver, the proposed landscape plan would require a payment of$567,000 to the City. Mr. Welch, City Director of Urban Forestry, noted that many of the plants slated for removal are native trees and the native vegetation close to Route 9 helps combat the extra pollutants in the air caused by
traffic.