The Hammonton Gazette 07/18/18 Edition | Page 5

Environmental Commission approves tree removal requests Page 4 • Wednesday, July 18, 2018 • The Hammonton Gazette by Stephen Pistone G azette S taff W riter HaMMONtON—the Ham- monton environmental Commis- sion unanimously approved five tree removal applications during an abbreviated meeting on July 11. approval of the applications will result in the removal of 10 trees in total. the minimum required number of commission members for a legal quorum (four) were present during the meeting (Martha Matro, Steven Carr, alicia Murphy and angelo Donio). Donio, who sat in for commission chairman Daniel Bachalis and led the proceedings, said that due to the number of commission members who were excused from the meeting, Bachalis recommended that the commission forgo the agenda’s usual work plan updates, commit- tee reports and any new business items, and instead focus solely on the tree removal applications. a motion to alter the order of busi- ness was made by Matro, sec- onded by Carr and passed unanimously. the first tree removal applica- tion was submitted by Creekview Development Co. LLC, located at 849 Central ave. the applicant is seeking to remove five trees that are reportedly interfering with the construction of the future site of a home on the property. a motion to approve the removal of the trees was made by Matro, seconded by Carr and passed unanimously. Next, the commission approved the application of f.J. reid Jr., who requested approval to remove two dead cherry trees on the premises at 211 Broadway. a motion to ap- prove the tree removal application was made by Murphy, seconded by Carr and passed unanimously. the commission also approved a tree removal application submit- ted by francis Bagliani, who is seeking to remove one silver maple tree at 425 12th St. that is causing an obstructed view, and has broken the sidewalk and town sewer pipe near it. Donio said she spoke with the applicant, who is the president of Bagliani’s Market and told her that removing the trees would also allow the market’s owners to con- nect an existing driveway to an ad- jacent doctor’s office property it recently purchased. “they have a driveway that comes out on that side of their property and this tree is right next to it … and they’re going to be using that driveway more when they take over that other property completely,” Donio said. a motion to approve Bagliani’s application was made by Murphy, seconded by Matro and passed unanimously. the fourth application ad- dressed during the meeting per- tained to resident Deborah D. Bunn, who lives at 265 Lakeview ave. and is seeking the removal of one tree that was struck by light- ning and was unquestionably in need of removal, according to Donio. “it’s definitely dead or half- dead—three quarters dead—and it was definitely hit by lightning,” Donio said. a motion to approve the tree re- moval was made by Carr, sec- onded by Matro and passed unanimously. Lastly, a fifth tree removal ap- plication was addressed and ap- proved, but wasn’t included on the meeting’s agenda. the application was submitted by Duke Bates, who is requesting the removal of a large tulip poplar tree, located at 120 Valley ave., specifically on See TREE, Page 10 SOLD! 800 S. White Horse Pike (Crowley Center), P.O. Box 1119 • Hammonton • 561-0505 • [email protected] • www.CrowleyCarr.com Congratulations ERIC & JILLIAN PLAVCHAK on the purchase of your home! Thank you for putting your trust in Crowley & Carr. “The Best Place in Town to Find the Best Place in Town.” With nearly 30 years in business, who better to guide you on all your Real Estate needs than the CROWLEY & CARR REAL ESTATE TEAM!