Printer Friendly Format Email a Friend


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PR- 118-10
March 18, 2010

MAYOR BLOOMBERG SIGNS LEGISLATION REGULATING THE REPLACEMENT OF STREET TREES

Remarks by Mayor Bloomberg at a Public Hearing on Local Laws

"The first of three bills before me today is Introductory Number 4-A, sponsored by Council Members Foster, Dickens, Gonzalez, James, Lappin, Mark-Viverito, Mealy, Palma Nelson, Dromm, Crowley, Ferraras, Gennaro, Reyna, and Vacca. Introductory Number 4-A requires the Parks Department to establish a formula for the replacement of street trees.

"During construction projects street trees may be damaged or removed and the Parks Department works with property owners on planning for their replacement.  In an effort to establish a more reasonable degree of certainty this legislation seeks to better define the amount, size and cost of trees required to replace trees that have been removed, destroyed or severely damaged through construction or other permitted uses. 

"Introductory Number 4-A will require the Parks Department within six months to promulgate rules establishing a tree replacement formula.  The rules will be required to substantially comply with the model rules set forth by the International Society of Arboriculture, a well respected entity in the arboriculture field.  Those required to plant replacement trees will be able to plant those trees themselves, or pay a fee to the Parks Department to have the City plant the replacement trees.

"Finally, this bill would expand the reach of such a uniform tree replacement formula to any entity removing a tree that is under the Parks Commissioner's jurisdiction, as well as City agencies.  However, City agencies would not be required to pay a fee, but would be able to work with the Parks Department on a tree site plan that designates the location of the replacement trees.  The agencies would be required to replace trees pursuant to the site plan within eighteen months of the completion of the project.

"I would like to thank Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe, Transportation Commissioner Janette-Sadik Khan, Environmental Protection Commissioner Cas Holloway, and their staff along with my Office of City Legislative Affairs for their work on this bill.  I would also like to thank the Council for approving this legislation."







MEDIA CONTACT:


Stu Loeser/Evelyn Erskine   (212) 788-2958




More Resources
Watch the video in low or high bandwidth