Several members of the public complained to the Morris Township committee last week about trees removed from a lot at the corner of Speedwell and Sherman Avenues.
Maureen Carlin called for a new, strict tree removal ordinance in the township.
Carlin pointed out these were 100+-year-old trees that had survived many storms, including the October 29 snowstorm that took down many similar trees.
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The commercial zone backs up onto a residential zone and Mayor H. Scott Rosenbush said the township should have communicated to those residents before the trees were removed.
He said the old trees would be replaced by a fence and more trees and the new buffer would “probably be better” than the old.
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The commercial property is vacant but once housed a real estate office.
Unlike Morris Plains, the township has never had a shade tree commission, Township Administrator Timothy Quinn said.
Quinn said the owners of the property went through the proper procedures and received the proper permits to take down the trees. He said they would replace the trees taken down with 24 trees and a fence. Both Quinn and Rosenbush said the new trees will be nowhere near as tall as the ones removed.
Quinn said the township has not received plans for redevelopment of the property.
