Tree Removal Has Phoenixville's Attention, Meeting Tonight

PHOENIXVILLE, PA – Phoenixville Borough's Tree Advisory Committee meets tonight, even as residents post photos of tree removal happening along borough streets, some asking if all the trees qualify as "diseased."

The committee meets Jan. 11 at 6:30 p.m. in a Zoom meeting. The link can be found here.

A citizens' group called Phoenixville Legacy Trees has 35 members and is planning to attend the meeting to advocate for the "urban forest."

Phoenixville resident Lisa Longo is concerned that the borough's Tree Ordinance. Longo told Patch she will not permit the borough to remove trees from her property.

Barbara Sharp has been posting on social media photos of the trunks of trees left standing around her neighborhood. Sharp said, "Having lived with these magnificent oaks for 25 years as a Phoenixville homeowner, I do understand the problems involved —buckling sidewalks (responsibility of homeowner), pollen and sap damaging cars parked beneath, limbs falling and endless leaf raking."

But, Sharp added, "I feel there needs to be a better solution than indiscriminately denuding our neighborhood."

Sharp said she knows "at least 7 new families that moved into just a two-block area," in the Presidential neighborhood, including here daughter. "They all moved here because of the trees," she said.

Sharp said her daughter researched the borough's site and found that in October 2017 Sharp's tree was evaluated and "ok'd" to stand. "However, five months later — Earth Day ironically — when I returned home from market found it (trimmed down to a bare stump). I was hysterical! No notifications."

Longo said many residents are also questioning the cost. She said the Borough of Phoenixville's designation as a 'Shade Tree' community is at stake, along with property values and increase utility bills.

"Residents have been told the (removed) trees are diseased and pose a danger," Longo said.

But, Longo insists that simple maintenance could alleviate the issue of the danger and said no one argues that truly diseased trees be left standing. Longo said she has already informed the Borough they will not be permitted to remove any tree that is on her property.

Sharp added, "I appreciate everything the Tree Advisory Committee is doing for our borough. I have volunteered in planting trees with them a couple of times. I understand the need to evaluate our old-growth urban forest and feel our trees should be protected and valued as assets - promoting real estate values, positive mental health, positive environmental impacts. I feel many residents aren’t aware of TAC or the amazing information regarding trees in each neighborhood available on borough site."

"There’s got to be a compromise," Sharp said.

The agenda for the Tree Advisory Committee meeting can be viewed here.

The tree replacement program was established in 2017. It can be viewed here.