(CORRECTION: The story has been updated to include two areas where trees will be removed. The previous story only referenced Keith Street).
A total of 17 shade trees off in East Watertown will be removed as part of the construction projects after City Manager George Proakis gave his approval.
The trees to be removed include nine along Mt. Auburn Street as part of the reconstruction of the street and eight on Keith Street located on a property where a home is planned to be built.
The trees on Mt. Auburn Street include five Honeylocust, a Red Maple, a King Crimson Norway Maple, a Kwanzan Cherry, and a Callery Pear. On Keith, six Norway Maples, an Ailanthus and an American Elm will be removed.
Proakis’ decision was made using an assessment provided by Department of Public Works Director Thomas Brady and Tree Warden/Forestry Supervisor Mike Micieli. The survival of the trees on Mt. Auburn Street “is not feasible” due to the project, he said.
“The existing trees pose direct conflicts with planned infrastructure upgrades, including proposed crosswalks, curb ramps, modified curblines, a revised traffic configuration, and a new travel lane,” the memo said.
Proakis provided a memo to Brady and Micieli regarding his decision on the trees on Keith, noting that the trees were not planned as street trees.
“All the trees located within the public right of way directly conflict with the planned construction of the home and its associated driveway,” the memo reads. “These trees have self-seeded in the absence of a designed sidewalk or curb along this portion of Keith Street.”
In the memo Proakis noted the assessment provided by the DPW officials.
“It is your professional assessment that the trees in question are unlikely to survive the impact of nearby construction activities,” the memo reads.
New trees and landscaping is planned for both affected areas. On Mt. Auburn Street, “the City will undertake a comprehensive replanting initiative to enhance green space along the corridor and restore the urban tree canopy.”
On Keith Street, the DPW recommends replacement plantings to provide “an equal cumulative diameter.”
A public hearing was held about the removal of the Mt. Auburn Street trees in May. Many opposed removing the trees. There was also confusion during the meeting, where initially the Tree Warden said that the decision was not up to the City because the Mt. Auburn Street reconstruction was a state-funded project. Later, the City’s attorney ruled that the decision does lie with the City because Mt. Auburn Street is not classified as a state highway.
A meeting about the Keith Street trees was held in July. During the meeting six residents “strongly” opposed the removal of the trees, and the Tree Warden also received two letters requesting that they be preserved.
I’m confused, are we talking about Keith St between Arlington and Prentiss St? Keith St isn’t really near Mt Auburn so I’m confused as to why this article says it is. Also, in the article it states that …“All the trees located within the public right of way directly conflict with the planned construction of the home and its associated driveway,” What home? I thought this was regarding the construction on Mt Auburn St. Is thewre a home going to be built on Keith St? I do see on Streetview an empty lot which is filled with trees, but if this article is about a house being built on Keith St, why mention Mt Auburn at all? Someone please enlighten me…
I see you’ve edited the article to clarify that it’s about Keith St, not Mt. Auburn, but you should also remove the last paragraph which relates to trees on Mt. Auburn St.
There are two separate sets of trees, one on Keith Street and one on Mt. Auburn Street. Sorry about the confusion.
Tree warden is very unprofessional.The trees on Arsenal st should be removed ,since their roots are going in to people’s homes.He never returns a phone call.He should be removed from this position.They were supposed to prune them last year.They have not done anything
I’m seeing this more often lately. Trees being cut down. I live in Waltham. Recently Waltham cut down some nice oak trees. Most streets here have no canopy anymore. They used to but now, It’s getting uglier and uglier. They just want to cram as many people in at the expense of living quality. It’s starting to feel like an inner city here now. It’s depressing.
Sorry folks that this was confusing,
Two entirely different locations were lumped together in this article. Yes, you’ve correctly identified the Keith Street location, entirely separate from Mt Auburn Street. One-house construction at 20 Keith Street, and road reconstruction on Mt Auburn Street: entirely different situations–but for the innocent trees never considered by the planners and developers.
Going forward, it is imperative that trees be considered–and given high priority–at the very beginning of each planning process. Developers must be made to protect existing trees and not thoughtlessly destroy them in the interest of convenience to the construction crews and pretty landscaping.
And now on Keith Street and Mt Auburn Street, I appeal to our DPW folks and the Keith St developer to generously fulfill all promises of “new trees and landscaping” — with large sized tree pits/planting strips — crafted for full-sized shade trees to thrive for the next 100 years and more.
I was among those questioning the necessity of the tree removals along Mount Auburn Street during the public hearing. I had been hopeful that changes to the plans could have saved some of the trees, but, as I now understand it, funding for the project would be jeopardized by making later changes.
I continue to support the Tree Warden and his decisions, which are based on far more and better information than I possess. Watertown’s street trees are amazing and outstanding and this is not a coincidence. Warden Miciele’s crews are professional, courteous, and effective–also a positive reflection on his agency.