Shopkeeper Leads an Uphill Battle to Keep a Tree

A local shopkeeper is leading a campaign to save a tree in front of her Tanner Street store scheduled to be taken down to allow more space for library parking and because it is nonconforming.

Wendy Dawson Kates, owner of Stardust Memories, a vintage clothing store at 25 Tanner St., says she has started a petition drive to save the tree, which she thinks is about 75 years old. Kates posted a message on the Haddonfield Patch Facebook page to drum up support.

“Please sign the petition to help save the Japanese Flowering Cherry tree in front of Stardust Memories,” Kates wrote. “The borough wants to replace it with a new shade tree. The shop is open Tues-Sat. 11-5. You can call Wendy Kates with any comments or questions at 856-428-1943.”

But Mayor Tish Colombi said recently the decision to take the tree down was made by the borough’s shade tree commission and is likely final.

“They’re pretty hard and fast with those rules because once somebody gets permission to keep something then the next person wants to,” said Colombi, one of three borough commissioners, the highest elected officials in Haddonfield. “It probably would have remained there forever if we weren’t redoing the street. But they’re taking down trees to provide parking spaces.”

The Tanner Street project will include a complete reconstruction of the intersection at Tanner Street, Euclid Avenue and Haddon Avenue, according to a borough document. In addition to fixing the road, the project will also include a complete replacement of Tanner Street’s underground infrastructure.

“We don’t want to take a tree down, but we have to sometimes.” Borough Solicitor Mario Iavicoli said. “Our policy is to save any tree possible.”

Please look for updates through the week on this story on Haddonfield Patch.

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