Thank you to everyone who took the time to attend Thursday’s meeting.  The turnout was great, and your engagement truly makes an impact. Thank you as well to everyone who shared their concerns and experiences regarding the Tree Ordinance, and to the Committee members for taking the time to actively listen to each resident.

The Committee acknowledged concerns raised by both the Land Use Board and residents and is discussing working on amendments to the application process. There was, however, a noticeable amount of confusion, contradiction, and conflicting information throughout the discussion presented to the residents. It was presented that Alexandria’s current Tree Ordinance is the least stringent it can be under NJ DEP requirements, though other municipalities have amended their ordinances to better reflect the needs of rural communities.  It was also mentioned that those ordinances, although being used by other towns, may not be officially approved by the NJ DEP.

The Committee noted they are awaiting OPRA records from the NJ DEP regarding other towns’ approved ordinances. They also stated that phone conversations with the NJ DEP indicate our current ordinance meets minimum state requirements. The Committee emphasized the need to protect both residents and the Township from potential NJ DEP regulation violations and fines.  It was requested that once these documents are obtained they can be presented to the Land Use Board and residents.  Residents did encourage the Committee members to take the model prepared by the Land Use Board and attempt to present it to NJ DEP for approval.

It was further discussed that documents available on the NJ DEP’s website — including their FAQ, which explicitly encourages municipalities to tailor tree ordinances to fit their community — can not always be trusted. As a result, Alexandria Township plans to create its own FAQ outlining the Tree Ordinance, the legal requirements under NJ DEP regulations, and the steps residents must take when applying for tree removal to ensure that residents receive what the Township considers the correct information.  It was stated several times that processing a Tree Application takes minutes from start to finish.  If anyone would like to test that timeline, I would certainly be interested in hearing your experience.

The Committee also suggested that all trees removed within the Township, whether dead or alive, are required to be reported to the NJ DEP.  Proposed amendments to the application process include shifting to an annual filing requirement, with more details to follow once the topic is formally discussed among the Committee.

Notably, despite the township's Facebook post no facts were presented that contradicted any information shared in this petition, or in any prior posts made related to this petition on social media.

I would also like to recognize Committeeman Kiernan for his responsiveness in assisting a concerned resident. At the previous meeting, a resident raised a concern about a hazardous/dangerous tree near power lines on a private lane. Committeeman Kiernan followed up directly with the resident and helped resolve the issue, ensuring the tree was removed and the community remained safe.

Slow progress is still progress. Keep speaking with your neighbors, keep spreading the word, keep sharing the petition, and remember — there is strength in numbers.  We have over 300 signatures which was also presented! 

I hope to see you all at the next Committee Meeting, tentatively scheduled for December 11th at 7:30 PM