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2026 Annual Town Meeting, Town of Arlington, MA
Article: 23
Warrant Article Title:
BYLAW AMENDMENT / TREE PRESERVATION AND
PROTECTION
Warrant Article Text:
To see if the Town will vote to amend Title V, Article 16 of the
Town Bylaws (the tree preservation bylaw) to extend existing
protections for trees 6 inches DBH and larger in the setback areas
to include trees 10 inches DBH and larger on the rest of the lot
beyond the setback. It will modify the definition of protected tree,
the protections for trees not removed, and the replacement
requirements for trees removed; or take any action related
thereto.
Requested By:
Jennifer Cutraro and Robin Bergman and ten registered voters
Report Excerpt:
Vote and comment to Town Meeting - No Action (5-0)
The Board voted unanimously that no action be taken on this
article. The Board heard from the article’s proponents regarding
the article’s intended purpose to further the protection of trees on
private land under the town’s Tree Protection and Preservation
Bylaw (Title V, Article 16), which applies under certain conditions
when structures are demolished, expanded or constructed.
At present, the bylaw defines a “protected tree” as “any existing
healthy tree on private land with a DBH of six (6) inches or
greater, located in the setback area, which does not pose an
immediate hazard to persons or property or is not under imminent
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threat of disease or insect infestation.” This proposal would
expand that definition to include all trees on private land with a
DBH of ten (10) inches or greater, whether or not they are located
in the property’s setback.
The Board supports the proponents’ goal of protecting more trees
in Arlington but recommends no action at this time due to a need
for additional information and input from vested parties, including
the Department of Public Works and the Tree Committee, and
further analysis of the impact that this proposal may have on
property issues before the Redevelopment Board, Zoning Board
of Appeals, and the Conservation Commission. It further notes
that the Tree Committee is not presently endorsing the proposal,
pending further study.
Vote Language:
That no action be taken on Article 23.
Select Board Report
