from Boston.com – Your Town Milton
The Hendries oak is dead and chipped into little bits, but its controversy lives on.
Both the town’s Planning Board and its Conservation Commission are grappling with whether the big tree was removed for good cause; the commission is considering whether fines are in order. (Read the full story here.)
Last updated 10:25 pm 03.09.11. Click read more for additional photos.
In a move that surprised town officials and neighbors Connelly Construction brought in a company to take down the black oak on the Hendries building site. Connelly construction cited the trees condition as a potential public safety hazard and their liability in explaining why they were removing the tree.
The Planning Board selected an arborist to inspect the black oak tree on the Hendries property. Only one of the eight firms contacted with the RFP submitted a formal response, Largess Forestry out of Rhode Island. But even this seemingly simple decision was not without some debate.
At last Thursday’s Planning Board Meeting members reviewed along with developer Steve Connelly an RFP drafted by member Pete Jackson. This was part of an ongoing public hearing regarding the development of the Hendries property on Eliot Street.
After listening to Steve Connelly, the developer of the Hendries property, make his argument for removing the large black oak that sits on the Eliot street side of the property, the planning board voted 3-2 to have an independent arborist examine it.
There are a lot of issues regarding the development at the Hendries site. And they all grow out of an old black oak tree that sits on the property.
The black oak that has been standing in the way of progress at the Hendries site finally received its independent bill of health. The Mr. Matthew Largess of Largess Forestry determined the tree “is not perfect but it is a very healthy tree of its age . . .It is not a hazard to the public. I would like to see it preserved.”
As residents and affected communities begin to work to repair damage in the aftermath of Hurricane Irene, Attorney General Martha Coakley offers the following information and advice to Massachusetts consumers.
It was the first Planning Board session since the removal of the black oak tree on the Hendries site so it was not surprising that last night’s planning board session was largely devoted discussion of the tree and it’s consequences to the development plan. It was also the first session since Mr. Connelly, the developer of the Hendries site had called for board member Pete Jackson to recuse himself.
Dear Mr. Clark and members of the planning board,
I am writing to you on behalf of Sustainable Milton as our board voted unanimously at our February meeting to approach you in an official capacity to support the Hendries black oak located at the corner of Eliot St. and Central Ave..