QUESTION
What are the considerations for homeowners regarding tree plantings and potential sidewalk damage from tree roots?
4:27:44
·
155 sec
Commissioner Sue Donoghue explains that recent enhancements to tree planting protocols aim to minimize sidewalk damage from tree roots.
- The department plants over 100 different tree species
- Tree species are selected based on how their roots will impact underground infrastructure and sidewalks
- Tree beds are being expanded to give roots more room to grow and reduce sidewalk impacts
- These measures are intended to make tree plantings welcomed by residents and avoid negative impacts like sidewalk damage
Kamillah Hanks
4:27:44
So I kinda wanted to also go back to council member nurses comment about the planting of trees because you wanna do this flood resilience.
4:27:55
And what's happening in Staten Island is that we're planting them on residential blocks.
4:28:00
And once they're planted and the roots begin to grow and they break up the sidewalk, then the city of New York gives a a parting gift of a bill that my constituents and I would imagine there's that my colleagues may have the same concern, But if how how can we ask or how can a constituent or homeowner ask for a tree that they know that they're going to care for as opposed to it being there and not really understanding what their financial responsibilities will be once the tree grows and and prospers and breaks up the the concrete in which they have to pay for.
Sue Donoghue
4:28:44
Yes.
4:28:44
Thank you, council member for the question.
4:28:47
And we've done a number of things and made a number of enhancements to our tree planting protocols over the last few years.
4:28:55
We're planting a great variety of trees over a 100 different species.
4:28:59
And we're looking at things like how it's going to impact, how the roots are going to impact underground, the sidewalk.
4:29:06
So really trying to plant the right trees for the right location to minimize impact.
4:29:11
We're also expanding the tree bed that we're planting in so that gives the roots more room to grow and creates less impact on the sidewalk.
4:29:21
So there's a number of things we have implemented on the forestry side to how smooth that process so people will welcome the trees and understand their importance in terms of enhancing the resiliency of the city.
4:29:33
Without causing the negative impacts.
Kamillah Hanks
4:29:36
Thank you.
4:29:36
And so that's the bottom, but the top now where we wanted to talk about clean energy and solar panels and the trees create shade.
4:29:45
So that's the 2nd big issue, which is you know, they're they're investing in solar energy, and the trees are covering.
4:29:54
And now during certain times of the month, I it's just or the year.
4:29:59
It's just become one of those things that we're not really understanding sometimes what we're asking for.
4:30:04
Of course, we want more trees.
4:30:06
We want clean energy, but these things often collide
Sue Donoghue
4:30:10
Right.
Kamillah Hanks
4:30:10
In a way that when we talk about urban planning in the public realm that we should be taking you know that into consideration for better planning.
4:30:18
Thank you.