Darien to hire landscape architect to examine Eversource replanting plan
DARIEN — The town is looking to hire a landscape architect and arborist to examine replanting plans created by Eversource for the Little Brook Road area – where dozens of trees are targeted for removal.
The town’s tree warden has placed warning signs on some 50 trees, which sit at the south side of the intersection of Little Brook and North Little Brook roads, in the town right of way. These trees have been tagged for removal as part of Eversource’s tree trimming and hazardous tree removal program.
Neighbors – supported by First Selectman Jayme Stevenson – oppose the plan and filed a formal complaint, calling for a public hearing with the tree warden. That hearing, which will be via Zoom, is planned for Sept. 8 at 6 p.m.
That meeting will come on the heels of another public hearing on Sept. 1, also via Zoom, at 6 p.m., during which Eversource officials will present their vegetation management program and answer community members’ questions.
Faced with the neighborhood opposition in the Little Brook Road area, Eversource officials have met with residents on multiple occasions on site and prepared a replanting plan for the area.
Stevenson confirmed that the town is seeking to hire a landscape architect and arborist to examine the plans and offer recommendations.
"The town does not have staff that is expert in landscape design and plant science,” Stevenson said. “We feel it is in the best interest of the town to hire experts who can help us determine the suitability of the replanting plan presented to us by Eversource.”
Stevenson praised Eversource officials for creating a positive working relationship with the town and residents, which she says resulted in their agreement to provide replanting plans.
“They are not required to do so,” Stevenson said.
Natalie Tallis, one of the neighbors in opposition, said Eversource's current planting proposal does not provide an abatement plan for invasives and includes primarily 1 to 3 gallon perennial flowers and shrubs.
“By not addressing aggressive growing invasives, such as the Tree of Heaven, Mugwort, Japanese Knotwood and Burning Bush, among others, it makes any planting plan they put forward moot,” Tallis said.
“To say nothing of the fact that perennial flowers, low growing shrubs, and small deciduous trees do not replace the environmental services of the thousands and thousands of trees - if not more - Eversource wants to clear-cut statewide,” Tallis added.
Eversource spokesperson Mitch Gross has stated that the emergency tree work will address an immediate safety hazard in the company’s transmission right of way in Darien and a threat to electric service in lower Fairfield County.
“The energy company will be trimming trees that have grown so close to the high voltage transmission lines that they are an imminent risk to the reliability to the electric system,” Gross said. “These trees are creating an emergency situation not only posing a serious threat to system reliability but also the safety of residents living nearby.”
The proposed work is part of a larger tree removal and vegetation clearing along the Metro-North train line between Fairfield and Cos Cob in Greenwich.
Gross said this particular land in Darien is broken into pieces owned by the town, Metro-North, Eversource and the state.
Stevenson said other trees, aside from the 40 to 50 on town lands, will also be removed. But since those are on state land, no posted warnings are required.