Item Coversheet


Town of Arlington, Massachusetts


Article 29
Warrant Article Title:

ZONING BYLAW AMENDMENT/ STREET TREES 

Warrant Article Text:
To see if the Town will vote to amend the Zoning Bylaw to update Section 2 DEFINITIONS and Section 6 SITE DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS to require street tree plantings for every 25 feet of property facing a street, when feasible; or take any action related thereto.
Requested by:
(Inserted at the request of the Redevelopment Board) 
Report Excerpt:

This Article aligns with the Master Plan, which states that in addition to environmental and public health benefits, trees have a significant impact on the quality of the pedestrian’s experience in Arlington’s commercial centers and neighborhoods. This Article supports the Master Plan goal of addressing street tree concerns, including replacement of trees lost due to age, storms, and failed survival of newly planted trees[1]. It also coordinates tree care between the Town and property owners.

 

The ARB supports this Article’s stated purpose to: provide adequate shade tree coverage along Arlington’s main corridors; implement carbon neutral policies and climate mitigation goals of the Town of Arlington; reduce heat island effects emanating from Arlington’s main corridors; and enhance public health and walkability with proper shading. This Article provides a nature-based solution to mitigate the impacts of the built environment. A 25-foot spacing is the general standard for spacing of public shade trees. During the public hearing, members of the public raised the issue of the Town’s ability to take care of public shade trees. Board members emphasized the Town’s progress in this effort, through hiring a full-time Tree Warden and dedicating time, resources, and funding to planting and maintaining public shade trees.

[1] Arlington Master Plan: Your Town, Your Future (2015), pg. 191.

Vote Language:

The Redevelopment Board voted 5-0-0 to recommend Favorable Action on Article 29 that the Zoning Bylaw be and hereby is amended as follows: 

Amend Section 2:                                                                                                                                                          

Public Shade Tree: A tree planted within the furnishing zone of a public way as an element of a thoroughfare consistent with G.L c. 87, § 1.

Amend Section 6:                                                                                                                                                          

6.3   PUBLIC SHADE TREES

 

6.3.1         Purpose

The purpose of this Section 6.3 is to:

A.      Provide for adequate shade tree coverage along Arlington’s main corridors;

B.      Implement carbon neutral policies of the Town of Arlington;

C.      Address heat island effects emanating from Arlington’s main corridors;

D.      Enhance public health and walkability with proper shading.

 

6.3.1         Applicability

 

In the Business Districts, new construction, additions over 50% of the existing footprint, or redevelopment subject to review by the Arlington Redevelopment Board shall provide one public shade tree every 25 linear feet of lot frontage along the public way.

6.3.2         Administration

 

A.      This Section 6.3 shall be administered subject to Sections 3.3, Special Permits, and 3.4, Environmental Design Review, by the Arlington Redevelopment Board.

B.      After the effective date of this Bylaw, public shade trees shall be provided for any applicable use noted above and subject to Section 3.4, Environmental Design Review, and in accordance with the Standards established in this Section 6.3.

 

6.3.3         Standards

 

A.      Street trees shall be planted within existing and proposed planting strips, and in sidewalk tree wells on streets without planting strips.

B.      Trees shall be selected from the approved tree list set forth by the Tree Committee and approved by the Tree Warden.

C.      When planted, trees must be a minimum height of ten (10) feet or two (2) inches in caliper.

D.      All new trees shall be maintained in accordance with American Standard for Nursery Stock standards for a period of no less than 36 months from the date of planting, or other standards the Redevelopment Board may designate. Properties in which there are preexisting public shade trees at the required spacing along the public way are exempt.  

E.       Where there is no other suitable location within the public way, shade trees may be proposed in locations within the lot, or in exceptional circumstances the Arlington Redevelopment Board may allow the owner to make a financial contribution to the Arlington Tree Fund.

The Arlington Redevelopment Board may grant an increase in spacing between plantings where a new planting would conflict with existing trees, retaining walls, utilities, and similar physical barriers, or other curbside uses.

6.3.4         Computation


When computation of the number of public shade trees results in a fractional number, any result of 0.5 or more shall be rounded up to the next consecutive whole number. Any fractional result of less than 0.5 may be rounded down to the previous consecutive whole number. The Arlington Redevelopment Board may allow the owner to make a financial contribution to the Arlington Tree Fund in an amount equivalent to the full and fair market value of the additional whole tree.
Additional Materials:

ARB Report

Article 29 - video presentation - ARB