Glen Ellyn trustees brush off tree rule

Regulations meant to make tree removal on private property harder to do in Glen Ellyn appear to have been rejected.

During a board workshop meeting Monday, a majority of village trustees opposed a “clear cutting” provision in a proposed tree preservation ordinance that would have required some property owners to tell the village about their plans for removing trees.

Only developers, renters, and those who have lived on a property for less than six months would have been required to submit a formal plan about tree removal to the village. But some trustees said even if those individuals go through such a process, they’d still be able to take down trees.

“At the end of the day you can do what you want,” said Trustee Robert Friedberg.

Village Attorney Stewart Diamond advised that the village board could later decide to adopt a separate ordinance regarding clear cutting, if trustees so chose.

The board also rejected a set of “above and beyond” recommendations to the tree preservation ordinance that had been adopted by the village’s environmental commission. The proposal called for establishment of a fee for property owners wanting to remove some healthy, noninvasive trees, and the cost of a permit to remove dead or invasive trees.

The current ordinance was adopted in 1998 to encourage tree preservation on public and private land during property development projects. Officials have sought to update it to clarify language and include some new rules, such as notifying neighbors during tree removal.

The commission has submitted a “base” recommendation for the village board’s consideration, while Interim Village Manager Terry Burghard submitted one of his own. That version wouldn’t require tree contractors to register with the village.

It’s still unclear if the ordinance would require contractors to submit to an inspection before a building permit is issued by the village.

Village President Mark Pfefferman said village staff would try to “meld” the two recommendations together and bring one back to the board next month.