Politics & Government

Township Could Enact 'Dramatic Change' on Lafayette Avenue, Uproot Trees So Sidewalks Can Be Repaired

Not all Township Committee members are on board with the plan.

The Township Committee may uproot 28 trees along Lafayette Avenue so it can repair the sidewalks along the road, but not all committee members think it's best to do so.

At a committee meeting Thursday, Township Engineer John Ruschke discussed the plan, which would involve removing the 28 trees and replacing seven of those 28. As the trees have grown, they have gotten in the way of the street's sidewalks, and have caused them to become uneven.

The trees have been marked with ribbons. If there is one ribbon around the tree, it is slated for total removal; if there are two the tree will be removed and replaced.

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"If we are going to make the proper repairs to the sidewalk, then something's got to give," Township Administrator Thomas Ciccarone said.

He said the removal of the trees will result in "a fairly dramatic change in appearance" along Lafayette Avenue.

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Committee member William O'Connor, however, didn't think getting rid of the trees was such a good idea.

"I'm sure the residents are not going to be happy," he said.

The township is using a state Department of Transportation grant to pay for the project. The grant will also allow the road itself to be repaved.

By the township's next meeting May 27, it will need to formalize its decision on the project in order to receive the grant.

O'Connor said that date might be coming up too quickly, and said he felt it would be OK if the committee misses the grant deadline, saying he doesn't want to rush to a decision on the matter.

"I'm getting concerned, especially with the timeline that we're going to rush something that we can't replace," he said. He later continued: "To take trees down for sidewalks—beautiful trees—is a travesty."

Ruschke said that the project basically needs to be done over the summer, since it would be nearly impossible to do the construction with Chatham High School and Lafayette Elementary School open.

But he said there was a way around the deadlock on the council. He said the committee could make the road paving work the primary part of the bid, and could then submit the sidewalk work as a supplemental bid, which would then buy the council more time to make a decision on whether the trees should come down or not. O'Connor agreed with that approach.

"Let's go ahead with the paving," he said. "And we may come to a consensus, but I doubt it in two weeks."

No other committee members said they were against getting rid of the trees. The move was recommended by the township's arborist.


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