GOOD FOR COLD SPRING! :: A Public Tree Law

GOOD FOR COLD SPRING!  

Last night, the Village Board unanimously voted to enact a PUBLIC TREE LAW!

As we know from the development and adoption of our Formula Business / Drive-thru Restrictions Law, legislation worth enacting is legislation about which we must be deliberative.

Our Public Tree Law establishes a structure within which dedicated volunteers can organize in support of the health and maintenance of our Village's Public Trees!  This legislation answers long-called-for requests for an institutional commitment to development and maintenance of our Village Arboretum! 

Long before I was on the Village Board of Trustees, a few extraordinary Village residents spent countless hours nurturing and advocating for our Public Trees.  They were effective and inspiring in their projects.  Other resident tree enthusiasts were moved to build on that work, asking the Village to make meaningful commitments to tree health by establishing a shade tree commission, a tree nursery –  by formally demonstrating support for the health of our Village Trees. 

• Previous Village Boards have secured Urban Forestry Grants.  

• Our Village’s Comprehensive Plan calls for the protection and enhancement of our Village Trees.  

• The Cornell Cooperative Extension submitted its completed Village Tree Inventory in December 2011. 

• Spring of 2012, residents worked with the Village to plant trees on Chestnut, Morris and Main Streets and tended them throughout the year.  

• Spring of 2013 our former Mayor Phillips helped residents to establish a Tree Nursery, and enthusiastic residents - including Haldane students - stepped up to sponsor tree plantings on Main, Chestnut & High Streets, and then tended them throughout the year.  

• Last fall, still more residents stepped up with contributions of funding for the planting of trees on our Main Street. 

• Spring of this year saw shade-giving trees planted for pedestrians and business patrons along a previously shade-less stretch of Main Street. 

Recognizing enthusiasm worth harnessing and momentum worth seizing, just over a year ago - in November of 2013 the Village Board voted unanimously to appoint a Tree Advisory Committee to develop recommendations for a public tree law and tree management plan.  Over the last year, with legal assistance from our Village Attorney, Mike Liguori of Hogan & Rossi, Tree Advisory Committee members (Jennifer Zwarich, Mary Saari, Kory Riesterer, Kathleen Foley, Dick Weisbrod, Donald MacDonald, Dana Bol, Tony Bardes, Chuck Hustis and myself)  all demonstrated stick-to-it-iveness to see enacted legislation worth enacting.

Thank you to our neighbors in the Village and in the Town who have turned out repeatedly in support of the work of the Tree Advisory Committee and the adoption of the Public Tree Law.

Thank you to our friends and colleagues at the New York Sate Department of Environmental Conservation, the Cornell Cooperative Extension, Central Hudson, and the Cold Spring Highway Department - all of whom have been invaluable resources for the Village in its work protecting, planting and maintaining our public trees, and in the development of this legislation!

HOORAY!!