Land Cleared for Chanticler Town Homes
Most of the trees destroyed were in poor condition, town says; Developer's plans call for planting more than 100 trees on the property.
If you’ve driven by the Chanticler property anytime in the last few weeks, you’ve noticed that everything’s gone – all the trees on the hill and a lot of the hill as well.
As Toll Brothers makes room for the 30-unit Chanticler at Short Hills Town Houses, they’ve clear-cut a good portion of the property, although a stand of trees on the back portion of the property will remain.
The plans called for the destruction of the trees, and Millburn Town Forrester Thomas Doty says most of the trees destroyed were in poor condition, either from disease or insect infestation. Most of the other trees that were removed were non-native invasive species, he said.
According to the plans on file with the township, Toll Brothers will plant 110 trees that should grow large as they mature and that Doty says will be more appropriate for area. The company will also plant more than 500 shrubs and bushes, along with flowers and other landscaping.
The trees that will be planted, according to the plans of file with the township, are the following:
20 October Glory Red Maples
19 Majesty Sugar Maple
22 English Fastigate Oak
2 Pin Oak
5 English Oak
3 Valley Forge Elm
12 Green Vase Zekova
1 European Beech
8 Norway Spruce
19 Serbian Spruce
Sunny Forrest
12:12 pm on Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Bullcrap. That is just to placate the public. Those trees were healthy. Especially the trees on the always cared for landscape that were used in many wedding photos. Why were the border trees taken down? If the builders were smart they would have left them up so that we would not have to observe the eyesore that is going on and it would help muffle the construction noise. Also the trees would have helped prevent the soil from eroding allowing the run off from building materials to pour into and pollute the brook. Contractors make their building decisions based on the bottom line not by what is good for the environment. Pave paradise and put up a parking lot (or more condos just what New Jersey needs).
Matt Stewart
2:47 pm on Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Is bullcrap a kind of "Happy Days" or "Laverne and Shirley" expletive?....shucks...:)
Damian
12:53 pm on Tuesday, August 16, 2011
What's worse was the leveling of the beautiful Arts and Crafts house near the Hobart Ave/White Oak Ridge blinking light-they clear cut that huge lot and are now building an ugly monstrosity.
Steph1963
3:32 pm on Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Wholeheartedly agree!!! What a shame - another huge mcmansion in place of a wonderful house with charm and character.
Matt Stewart
2:45 pm on Tuesday, August 16, 2011
There are plenty of trees in the Reservation...or in the Adirondacks...plus...trees are a renewable resource...this project creates jobs, helps the local economy, helps with the town's tax base, to fund our schools, etc...plus...new trees will be planted as part of the development...given the choice between the loss of a tree under controlled circumstances or the creation of a job that can offer vitality to a man/woman and his/her family...in this case...likely not such a bad outcome...
not everything old has merit...and not everything new is unsympathetic...just a balancing act...
Zoinks
3:13 pm on Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Even a well maintained tree can have diseases or insects. And non-native and invasive species are very common. I will trust Mr. Doty on this one. And the list of replacements looks good. At least it is not all ornamental pears.
Sunny Forrest
4:25 pm on Tuesday, August 16, 2011
To Matt, "trees are a renewable resource...helps the local economy..." that is the same argument they use for clearing the Rain Forests.
J. Edward
1:16 pm on Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Right on, Sunny Forrest! Anything for a short term filling of the coffers but overall decrease in quality of life for generations. I've seen several local McMansion projects where certain developers are given carte-blanche to cut graceful 150 yr. old trees w/ no site inspection whatsoever.