Chatham engineer: No permit needed for tree removal at school

THE CHATHAMS Apparently school officials did not need the boroughs permission for the July 8 removal of trees at the Washington Avenue School, emergency or not.

About nine trees were removed after police notified the district that one had split and was in danger of falling.

The removal created an outcry, not only because the trees were cut down. The district next month intends to add 23 parking spaces at the school to alleviate parking congestion, and speculation was ground clearing had begun without notifying the public.

That speculation, however, ended Tuesday when Borough Engineer Vincent DeNave issued a statement saying the School District of the Chathams is not subject to our tree removal permit process.

The Board of Education is defined as a Public Agency , their property is considered public lands and therefore exempt from the provisions, DeNave wrote.

However, DeNave noted that if the board chooses to move forward with a parking lot expansion project, they are subject to appear before the Planning Board for a capital review that will allow for public comment and input.

The expanded lot is part of the districts capital improvement plan for the 2013-14 school year. Officials want the spaces to be available when school starts this September.

DeNaves announcement was welcomed by Superintendent of Schools Michael LaSusa.

"Regardless of technical requirements or exemptions to such, we want to be as communicative as possible with our municipal officials and also be a good neighbor to those who live near our schools, he said in a Tuesday email.

That the district was exempt from local laws was determined by Borough Attorney James Lott.

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Chatham engineer: No permit needed for tree removal at school