Franklin Lakes revises tree-cutting rules. Here's what you can and can't do

Marsha A. Stoltz, NorthJersey.com
Updated ·2 min read

FRANKLIN LAKES — There is no poem as lovely as a tree, and the borough's newly-adopted ordinance on their removal and replacement aims to keep it that way.

The ordinance, adopted last week, is intended to reinforce the mayor and council’s commitment to preserving the tree canopy in the borough.

"The process took probably five years," Shade Tree Commission Chairman Michael Tulp said. "We last redid this 12 years ago and found it wasn't working. We were protecting the trees in general but not what individual property owners do."

Trees near Franklin Lakes homes, such as this Ewing Avenue tree that fell on a house during a July 2021 storm, could not be cut down without a permit under terms of a new ordinance approved by Borough Council in June.
Trees near Franklin Lakes homes, such as this Ewing Avenue tree that fell on a house during a July 2021 storm, could not be cut down without a permit under terms of a new ordinance approved by Borough Council in June.

The goal is "to more effectively deter property owners, developers, contractors and tree contractors from removing more trees than necessary and to better maintain the tree canopy."

"Our general philosophy is that a tree affects everything, even two blocks away," Tulp said.  "The trend has been to remove a lot of trees, and we've tried to address that in the ordinance, especially protections for larger trees."

Franklin Lakes tree changes

  • Tree replacement is required. Exceptions are for trees that are hazardous, dead or dying, or that are within the footprint of a new structure or an addition.

  • Sliding scale replacement numbers. Depending on the diameter of the tree, it must be replaced with one or more trees. Trees 34 inches in diameter or more must be replaced with nine trees, for example.

  • Stricter penalties from $500 to $5,000 per tree, as well as tree replacement requirements.

  • Fines for contractors, tree care businesses, not just residents.

  • Eliminate loopholes. Provisions that allowed for tree removal at new construction sites outside the buIlding area have been eliminated.

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Tree replacement policies have been adopted by a number of municipalities in recent years, Tulp said. Ridgewood updated its tree policies to include replacement last May, for example.

Arborists and foresters will be charged with enforcing the borough’s tree removal and replacement ordinances. Tulp said there are exceptions to every rule and that there will be an appeal process by which residents and developers can consult with enforcement.

"We'll listen to a reasonable solution," Tulp said.

For more information regarding the Shade Tree Commission, contact Michael Tulp at Michael.tulp@verizon.net or 201-280-1183.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Franklin Lakes NJ revises ordinance for tree cutting