The Greenwich Board of Education cannot remove 121 trees for the high school renovation project unless it replaces them with 180 new ones, Tree Warden Bruce Spaman ruled. Of that number, 120 trees must be native deciduous species and 60 must be native or non-native conifer and deciduous species.
The replacement trees must be planted between September 2011 and July 2012.
The board must also guarantee that any new trees that die or are in poor health will be replaced within three years, and that timber from the taken trees be made available to Greenwich High School technology and art classes or local artisans and woodworkers.
The Music Space and Auditorium Project is slated to begin construction July 1. The Representative Town Meeting voted $17 million for the first phase of the $29 million project.
Spaman said the board must also enhance the projects already planned tree islands to foster the trees health and lifespan.
What do you think of Spamans decision to allow removal of the trees as long as new ones are planted? Comment below or send your response to ahelhoski@thedailygreenwich.com.
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