Taking the “Oak” Out of Oakhurst
By DON STINE
The clear-cutting of old-growth trees on residential properties needs to end, say residents living in Ocean Townships Oakhurst section and they are urging the Township Council to take action.
They are taking the oak out of Oakhurst, said resident Lesley Dorsett, Lockwood Place.
Dorsett said the neighborhood has been severely impacted in recent years by new property owners renting houses to college students and clear-cutting trees to make way for recreational items, like swimming pools and basketball courts.
Dorsett, who has lived in the neighborhood for 39 years, said about 50 to 60 trees, many of them old-growth oak and walnut trees, have been cut down recently.
Its such an invasive action and its changing the character of the neighborhood forever. The student rentals may go away someday but the trees will be gone forever. It just devastates you, she said.
Dorsett said she hopes the council will act quickly to adopt a new ordinance imposing stricter regulations for removing trees.
Many other towns have restrictions and Ocean Township is at the tail-end as far as enacting an ordinance, she said.
Dorsett said the last tree clearing removed about 30 trees from one property.
That clearing was the last straw as far as I am concerned, she said
Ken Wixon, who has lived in the neighborhood since 1954, said people for blocks around are upset at whats happening.
Up to 18 beautiful oak trees were removed from just one property. And its clear-cutting, not removing just a tree or two. Its starting to look like scorched earth and the neighbors are going into shock, he said.
Wixon introduced a sample tree-removal ordinance adopted by Fair Haven to the council about three months ago.
At first it seemed the council was reluctant to do anything because it was dealing with trees on private property. But I know there are other towns with similar ordinances and I think they should have looked into this much sooner. In the interim there has been an absolute slaughter of oak and other trees, some that are hundreds of years old, he said.
After all the trees are down its too late, Wixon said. Mayor William F. Larkin said the township has to go through the legal process of developing a revised tree removal ordinance and follow the legal procedure of introducing and then possibly adopting the ordinance two weeks later. It then takes another 20 days for the ordinance to go into effect He said the township has been looking into the matter and expects an ordinance to be introduced at the councils Nov. 5 meeting. Under the townships current tree removal ordinance a permit is required to remove trees on more than one acre of land. No permit or restrictions, however, are now placed on tree removals on less than an acre of land. On less than an acre the owner can do whatever they want right now, Larkin said. Two sample ordinances being considered for introduction by the township require a permit to remove any trees or a permit to remove three trees or more regardless of the lot size. New owners are denuding their property of trees and the whole neighborhood is outraged, said Florence Kessler, who lives on S. Lincoln Avenue. Florences husband, Paul, said a property at 209 S. Lincoln has taken down many trees, including at least one giant black walnut tree that was a considered a landmark and natural wonder in the neighborhood. Its time to pay attention to your neighborhoods. Its gotten to the point where we have to fightso lets all get together on this, he said.
Read more about your town by picking up The Coaster at your local newsstand or subscribe today.
Published every Thursday.
