AMHERST – A planned roundabout at the north end of downtown Amherst, and sidewalk and crosswalk improvements in front of the Jones Library on Amity Street, could lead to the removal of six public shade trees.
The Planning Board and Tree Warden Alan Snow are holding joint hearings, under the scenic roads bylaw, that will determine the fate of these trees. The hearings begin in the Town Room of Town Hall at 7:10 p.m. Wednesday.
Snow said Thursday that when trees in the public way on the town’s scenic roads are going to be cut down, he and the Planning Board have a joint vote.
“We will try to come to an agreement on the need or not the need to remove the trees,” Snow said.
The first hearing, at 7:10 p.m., is on three linden trees, measuring 19.6 inches, 16.3 inches and 11.7 inches diameters at breast height, an 8.8-inch diameter Norway maple and a 22-inch diameter spruce. These trees are all at or near Kendrick Park.
Department of Public Works Superintendent Guilford Mooring said these five trees need to be removed to allow construction of a roundabout to replace the intersection of East Pleasant and Triangle streets. While there are vocal critics of the project, it has been endorsed by the Select Board and the Public Works Committee.
Mooring said he will bring the roundabout project back to the Select Board for final comments once a design is complete. At that time, there should be cost estimates for its construction.
A hearing on a 22-inch diameter linden in front of the 43 Amity St. library is scheduled at 7:15 p.m.
Snow said that tree is leaning toward the road and there is a crack on one side.
The roots of the tree could be affected by the Department of Public Works’ plans to resurface Amity Street and install new curbing, Mooring said.
All the trees are marked with a yellow sheet informing the public about the hearings and providing contact information for Snow. He said he has not received any requests to save the trees.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
