Tree lined streets. Those three words evoke many feelings and images. We think pastoral landscapes, respite from summer heat, and beautiful neighborhoods. In real estate, we think "added property values".
Street trees in Connecticut have taken a beating in the past few years, due to a series of stronger storms. No one has felt the sting of this more than our utility companies. When limbs or whole trees fall on utility wires and take out power, utilities feel the ire of unhappy customers. In response, the utility companies and the State of Connecticut have set up task forces (the Two Storm Panel, The State Vegetation Task Force) to come up with ways to handle power outages in a more timely manner, and to avoid them, if at all possible. In 2013, PURA, the Public Utilities Regulatory Agency, recommended enhanced tree pruning, while protecting trees compatible with power lines, contacting abutting property owners prior to removing trees, and consultation with Town tree wardens prior to cutting down trees.
Suddenly, tree trimming and removal have become big issues in Hamden and New Haven. Our local utility, United Illuminating, has announced plans to remove all trees and branches within 8 feet of electrical wires. While we can understand the predicatment of the utility, is this the best approach? The cost would be $100 million dollars throughout the service area.
The Garden Club of New Haven, of which I am a member, has taken a position on this issue. Member "Mikey" Hirschoff has worked on these task forces from the beginning. In a written statement this week, Ms. Hirschoff stated that with this policy, New Haven, known for its tree lined streets, could lose half of its street trees. This would impact water and air quality, increase noise, and take away from the beauty and quality of life of the city's neighborhoods.
The Garden Club is in favor of removing dead or structurally weak trees, but wants healthy trees pruned, rather than removed. It also endorses the "Right Tree/Right Place" policy, and taking a longer range view of the problem. A mature tree canopy can take 50 years to grow, so what is done today has very long term consequences. A study found that more than 50% of the trees that took down power lines were not within the 8 foot corridor. You can read more about this at the club website: www.gardenclubofnewhaven.org.
Hamden's neighborhoods are also concerned with the utility's tree policy. Hamden's mayor has suspended United Illuminating's tree trimming in town, pending further discussion and appeals to the State. Several meetings are scheduled to address the issue. On Thursday evening, January 9th, the Whitneyville Civic Association will meet to discuss the issue. The meeting will be at the Whitneyville Church at 7:30 p.m. On Monday, January 13th, the Dunbar Hill Civic Association will hold a meeting at the Volunteer Fire Station, 420 Dunbar Hill Road. They will host the Director of Transmission, Distribution, Operations and Maintenance for United Illuminating. And on Wednesday, January 15th, United Illuminating will host a workshop at 6:30 at the auditorium at Memorial Town Hall. All meetings are open to the public. My thanks to the Hamden Patch for this meeting information.
This is a great example of people working to reach consensus on a policy to benefit both the needs of the public and the utility. I will keep you posted.
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