BEREA, Ohio -- Not all trees equally welcome in the city.
Speaking on behalf of the Berea Shade Tree Commission, City Council Representatives Erika Coble and Gene Zacharyasz presented an ordinance at the Jan. 17 council meeting that regulates tree species in public places, particularly on tree lawns and rights-of-way.
The list of prohibited trees has expanded “to better reflect current best practices that take into consideration ecological and climate concerns, while balancing practical concerns,” according to the legislation, which received its first of three public readings.
“We feel this is a really good, strong list of trees to prohibit on public space,” Coble said. “We also have another list that will be posted on the city website for recommended trees for people to plant.”
“We’re moving light years ahead of anything we’ve done in the past,” Zacharyasz added. “It’s been very productive for the city.”
The legislation lists the following species as prohibited on street lawns: tree of heaven, mimosa, hedge maple, Amur maple, box elder, Norway maple, sycamore maple, silver maple, European black alder, European white birch, Russian olive, autumn olive, glossy buckthorn, ash, black walnut, golden rain tree, white mulberry, Callery pear, princess tree, Amur corktree, white poplar, cottonwood, Lombardy poplar, wingnuts, common buckthorn, black locust, willows, European mountain ash, pagoda tree, Siberian elm and zelkova tree.
It goes on to say the city is authorized to remove trees deemed unsafe or “detrimental to other public improvements, or infected with any fungus, insect or other pest or disease which otherwise cannot be controlled.”
Additionally, trees in close proximity to a public property that have roots disrupting surfaces, invading sewers or damaging sidewalks can be declared public nuisances and removed.
Baldwin Wallace University Professor Emeritus Michael Melampy, an ecology and environmental issues expert, served on the Shade Tree Commission.
“These trees play an important ecological role, and that’s what stimulated this list,” Melampy explained to council. “Most of the trees on this list are invasive, meaning once planted, the seeds they produce often become established in areas where we may not want them (such as the nearby Cleveland Metroparks).”
Berea maintains a Master Shade Tree Plan in the public service director’s office.
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