Lincolnshire proposes new tree program

Lincolnshire officials are excited about an unusual proposal calling for the village to plant trees on private property, but a prominent local nature expert isn't sold on the plan.

The program would allow residents to adopt relatively young trees from the village at no cost. In exchange, homeowners would promise to water and prune the trees, make them available for village inspection and meet other requirements.

The money for the trees would come from an existing fund financed by developers or homeowners who remove trees. A budget has not been determined.

"We suspect that the village will embrace this program, and we'll see if we can make it grow," Mayor Brett Blomberg said today.

Residents would have to apply and qualify for the program. Priority consideration would be given to properties that are treeless or already have well-maintained landscaping.

Under the proposed rules, applicants could get up to three trees during a five-year period and not more than one a year.

Despite the village's good intentions, Lake County Forest Preserve District Executive Director Tom Hahn is hesitant to endorse it.

Hahn, whose district plants between 1,500 and 2,000 trees a year on public land, expressed concern about how the program's restrictions would be enforced, as well as the greater issue of using public money for private benefit.

If village leaders want to improve the environment, they probably could get the same benefit by planting trees on public land so everyone could enjoy the greenery, he said.

The village board could approve the program at its next meeting, set for 7 p.m. Oct. 8 at village hall.