Prompted by a request from a town resident, New Canaan’s tree warden has scheduled a public hearing regarding the widely discussed Norway maple out front of the recently renovated and expanded Town Hall.
The Norway maple out front of Town Hall. Credit: Michael Dinan
Tree Warden Bruce Pauley said the hearing will be held at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, June 2 in the Training Room at the New Canaan Police Department.
“In accordance with Sec. 23-59 of the CT State Statutes, anyone may voice their concerns, objections, and/or other grievances regarding this, and only this, tree,” Pauley said in a public notice. “All those persons wishing to be heard on this issue are invited to attend and let their thoughts be heard.”
The Norway maple, a non-native species that Pauley has described as “breaking up” and which used to have a companion tree on the north side of the main walkway on the front lawn of Town Hall, made headlines last month when town resident Andrea Sandor objected to the tree warden’s tagging it for removal.
Pauley, a fourth-generation New Canaanite, had intended to plant matching sugar maples out front of Town Hall, but backed away from his plan, at first, when Sandor in emails called the Norway maple “an important” and “legacy tree” that “provides an anchor for the rural nature of the town.” Sandor said the Norway maple has been poorly pruned and objected to the tree’s being tagged for removal while construction fencing had obstructed her view of the tag and, consequently, her ability to call for a hearing on it.
When word of the change in plans for the front lawn of Town Hall got out, several residents expressed support for Pauley’s original plan, and responded positively to an article he published on NewCanaanite.com. With that wide community support, Pauley re-posted the Norway maple for removal.
Unfortunately, I will not be able to attend the Public Hearing but I feel strongly that the Norway Maple should be taken down and replaced by a Sugar Maple. Many Norway Maples were planted by developers in the 1960s and the 1970s and many have died or are dying. They are not indigenous, they are an invasive species and crowd out native plants. Very little can grow under a Norway Maple. They produce great amounts of debris and their leaves do not turn into the beautiful colors of the native species, like Sugar Maples. Also, they leaf out earlier that native trees and, when we have the early snowfall a couple of years ago, many of their branches fell and created a dangerous situation.
Norway Maples often slowly weaken and die over a period of years or decades because of root girdling. Roots begin to grow around the main stem of the tree and cut off or restrict the movement of water, plant nutrients and stored food reserves. Over time, growth of the branches affected by the girdling will be slowed. As injury progresses, leaves will become smaller and lighter green, fewer leaves will be produced, and eventually the branch will begin to die back. Death of the entire plant can occur in five to 20 years; watering, fertilizing and pruning will do little to correct the problem.
Many Norway Maples were planted on our street (Soundview Lane) and several have died and are dying. Not one resident has replaced them with Norway Maples, they have been replaced by Sugar Maples, Pear Trees, or Red Maples. All are superior, in my view.
When one of my Norway Maple’s died, my tree guy suggested that we replace it with a Sugar Maple. He said Sugar Maples are hearty and do not have any of the problems of Norway Maples. This is what I have done. It was a few years ago and now it is a beautiful tree. I plan to replace all of my Norway Maples with Sugar Maple as necessary.
The town should act proactively and remove the Norway Maple which can never represent New Canaan and two young Sugar Maples should be planted in front of Town Hall.
Keith Richey