10-22-04

 TREE CANOPY ORDINANCE IN DISCUSSION

Another Tree Canopy Ordinance was introduced again as a FIRST (of three) readings at the Council meeting last Tuesday as a part of the total GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE Ordinance. The goal of the Ordinance is to protect and improve the tree canopy and Heritage trees as well as to provide an objective process for managing this important City asset. Another public meeting will be held in early November before the next reading. Professionals from the U.S. Forestry Service, Delaware Department of Agriculture and the City insurance underwriter will be in attendance to discuss the issues. A detailed study of the City tree inventory is in progress and NO DECISIONS HAVE BEEN MADE for removal of ANY tree at this point. Ribbons around trees are not from the City but from the Tree Commission. We encourage everyone interested in helping to preserve the tree canopy to get a copy of the Ordinance at the City offices on Delaware Street. We welcome your input to this process. For more information, please call Chris Castagno at 325-1081 or CastagnoCJ@aol.com.