Milton officials look at strengthening tree regulations

The Milton Planning and Zoning Commission has begun examining whether to strengthen the town’s tree regulations to require a minimum number of trees on parcels of land.

Project Coordinator Tom Quass said the idea of additional regulations came up after citizens noticed the large number of trees cut down at the intersection of Front Street and Cave Neck Road to make way for the Cannery Village IV development.

While an overall approach or ordinance has not yet been decided, the draft regulations would be based on Lewes' tree-density requirements and would apply to all major subdivisions, minor subdivisions, site-development plans and new residential construction. The only exceptions would be for interior renovations or additions. 

Lewes’ model regulations call for at least one tree for every 2,500 square feet of land. Existing trees would count toward the tree density requirements, but trees in the right of way would not. Invasive species would not be planted; the planting of native trees would be encouraged. Trees would be selected with a “right tree, right place” best practices, and the minimum tree height at the time of planting would be 1 ½-inch caliper or about 5 to 6 feet in height. Tree-density requirements would be separate from any other required landscape buffer or tree-planting requirements. 

At the planning and zoning March 19 meeting, Commissioner Jeff Seemans said other additions could include requiring street trees for residential projects annexed into town. He said this would make developers add trees back on new lots after cutting them down. Seemans’ suggestion was after the incoming Scarlet Oaks development punched into a pocket of trees on the rear of the property. 

The commission also discussed the possibility of town council appointing an ad hoc committee to draft an ordinance related to trees, but council has not had any discussions on such a committee at this time. Currently, town regulations on trees are scattered throughout town code, mainly in the land-use and zoning regulations. The most relevant section is in land-use regulations, which state that “natural features, such as trees, brooks, hilltops and views shall be preserved whenever possible in designing any subdivision or land development containing such features.”