Saturday, March 24, 2007

EDGEMONT NEIGHBORHOOD GETS TREE CLEARING FROM CON ED - CON ED TO MEET WITH ME THIS COMING WEEK --I BELIEVE SMALLER TREES SHOULD REPLACE TREES

I received a report that Con Ed has cleared trees behind the Mount Joy transformer. About 20 trees (all of the trees looked hardy and robust) were cut.A residential neighborhood now looks like Central Ave road front property.
I feel that Con Ed should replant trees that have been cut with smaller growing trees. Con Ed is being proactive --cutting down trees to minimize the possibility of future power outages. The significant tree clearing program that is taking place in Greenburgh and around the region is changing the character of neighborhoods and may also cause other environmental concerns: drainage, erosion, etc..
I will be meeting with Con Ed representatives this coming week to discuss. I would appreciate being notified of other tree clearing that is taking place around the town.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

I guess that underground power lines turned out to be too much trouble. Much easier to just remove everything near the existing above-ground lines.

Anonymous said...

The trees that are close to the wires or above the wires should be trimmed down. Just make them shorter.If property owners did the same with trees on their properties,we would not have the trouble that we always have with outages.we cannot blame ConEdison for all the problems .Home owners refuse to take care of the greenery on their property,this causes problems to their homes also.I repeat you dont have to cut the trees down just trim them so they do not hit power lines or your own homes.

Anonymous said...

I do not understand why a private company is allowed to cut thousands of trees at will without obtaining a permit from the town, as required from everyone else in Greenburgh.

Anonymous said...

DID YOU EVER STOP TO THINK THAT CON EDISON HAS THE RIGHT AWAY ON THE LAND WHERE THEY ARE CUTTING THE TREES[RIDGE RD.]THEY SEEM TO BE CONCENTRATING ON THE MAIN POWER LINES.YES THE TREES SHOULD BE REPLACED AND THEN MAINTAINED .IF THE TREES ARE ON TOWN PROPERTY,THEN CON EDISON SHOULD BE ASKING FOR A PERMIT TO CONTINUE THE WORK.BY THE WAY THEY ARE ALSO TAKING CARE OF OUR TELEPHONE SERVICE .AS HOME OWNERS WE TOO SHOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF THE TREES ON OUR PROPERTY.SOME TREES ARE TOO TALL ,THIS COULD BE A PROBLEM TO OURSELVES OR TO OUR NEIGHBORS HOME,IF WE EVER GET A BAD STORM.TREES ARE GREAT ,BUT THERE ARE TOO MANY PROBLEMS IF THEY ARE NOT MAINTAINED,

Anonymous said...

Why in the world would ConEd have to ask permission of a town? Heck, we should be thankful for the work they're doing. It may not all come out pretty, but it's an outstanding long-term solution they're providing to us - us being individual homeowners who ignore responsibilities, as well as us as electricity customers. Sure, let's get some shrubs and small trees planted, but overall this matter is certainly nothing for us to be up in arms about.

Anonymous said...

I just drove by the site of the alleged atrocity. The trees are still standing; there are no stumps so it seems unlikely that any trees were actually cut.
The branches which had been overhanging the transformer were cut back to clear the top and sides of the transformer's concrete pad. The tree trimmers also cut the branches on the sides away from the transformer - presumably to balance the weight of the branches removed, and thereby prevent undue stress on the tree trunk. It is, in fact, ugly as sin - but it is far from the tragedy one might presume based on the headline chosen. The "smaller trees" the Supervisor would have Con Ed plant would still require this kind of regular pruning to avoid encroaching on the transformer's footprint. So again, one should ask the Supervisor to develop a clear plan for the requested planting and a funded maintenance program. Yes, this is the Supervisor's responsibility because the replanting is his request. The matter of who should pay now and forever more should also be clearly established BEFORE proceeding any further. To borrow a phrase from my Jr. High shop teacher, "Measure twice, cut once."

Anonymous said...

Con Ed is clear cutting trees all over Westchester. I'm glad that the town is fighting to have smaller trees planted to replace trees that have been cut. Drive on Ridge Road. Cars are in serious danger of falling down the cliff because the barrier to the Sprain has been destroyed. The trees were a great buffer area. Let's support the Supervisor's initiatives.

Anonymous said...

"Cars are in serious danger of falling down the cliff because the barrier to the Sprain has been destroyed."

Well, it's too late now. So put up a guard-rail immediately, and plant some shrubs in front of it. Planting new trees would be nice, too, but new trees won't be able to serve as any barrier for a few decades.

Anonymous said...

Exactly when and where will this ConEd meeting take place? Jim Lasser, I have no clue who you are, but I really hope that you will be there to help the supervisor communicate professionally. The last six or so sentences of your posting make it clear that you understand the big picture, and that you would know how to properly frame the town's requests.