Springfield panel reviews draft tree-cutting ordinance
Town Board 2026-09-24 Part 2 · Meeting of September 24, 2026
Springfield's Sustainability and Environment Committee reviewed a long-awaited draft ordinance regulating tree removal on private property. Attorney Tom Moore presented the Law Department's version, calling it an ordinance that "casts a wide net" over parcels of 5,000 square feet or more with 10 or more qualifying trees. The draft sets fees of $125 for smaller permits and $250 plus $10 per tree for permits covering 10 or more trees, plus canopy-reduction surcharges.
City Forester Alex Sherman warned the city risks adopting rules it "simply" can't enforce without added staff. Scans Group member Jay said an earlier case study pegged clear-cut fees near $60,000 for a sample lot, well above what the new draft appears to generate, and asked for a comparative analysis. Chair Councilor Davila set a final review for October 9 before sending the measure to the full City Council October 19.
In the full story:
- Who Was There
- Organizations And Documents Referenced
- The complete report — 2,076 words
Source: the Town Board 2026-09-24 Part 2 meeting of September 24, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
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