Natick - Tree Removals and Plantings

Public and private tree impacts and mitigation, removal and planting plan.

Public shade tree impacts

The project will remove three living public shade trees that are located within the right-of-way associated with the Cochituate Rail Trail, south of the project’s western limit on Route 9. These public shade trees are being removed due to grading impacts associated with the Shared-Use-Path (SUP) connection to the Cochituate Rail Trail.

The project will remove additional trees that are not considered public shade trees, 16 of which are located on private property and the remaining are within the State Highway Layout (SHLO) at the Route 9 and Route 27 interchange.

During project design and development, the existing infield areas, meaning the landscaped areas within the boundaries of the interchange, were designated for clearing and grubbing to facilitate roadway, bridge, SUP, and retaining wall construction, stormwater improvements, grade improvements, and construction access and staging.

MassDOT and its design consultant typically identify trees that will either be directly impacted by proposed physical improvements or may have their root zone or viability impacted by construction activities such as grading, excavation, and utility work. If trees are deemed likely to be impacted in a manner that will risk the health of the tree, creating a roadway hazard, they are identified for removal.

Additionally, prior to the removal of all trees, a certified arborist walked the site and reviewed trees proposed to be removed to determine if individual trees could be retained with additional trunk or root zone protection. The arborist also reviewed the location of trees proposed to be retained to determine if potential impacts to the health and viability of the tree would require removal.

Public shade tree mitigation

Mitigation for tree removals includes the planting of 226 new trees within the project limits. Tree plantings are proposed along the Shared-Use-Path (SUP) connection to the Cochituate Rail Trail, along Route 27, and the infield areas within the boundaries of the modified Diverging Diamond Interchange (DDI).

As mitigation for the public shade tree removals, the project proposes to plant six new trees along the SUP connection from Route 9 to the Cochituate Rail Trail. Additionally, some existing trees in the area will be retained and protected with tree protection fencing during construction. The existing trees that are protected and retained will have a better opportunity to grow and fill out their canopies into the available space. Additionally, the area where the six mitigation plantings are proposed will restore an existing blighted area occupied by the remnants of a previously demolished building that lacks existing trees and vegetation.

Proposed tree plantings include a mix of deciduous trees of varying heights and evergreen trees. Replacement tree species and locations were selected based on ease of maintenance with a preference for native species. The selected tree species will continue to be evaluated and may be revised based on availability and likelihood of success. The project proposes to mitigate tree removals with approximately double the amount of proposed tree plantings. The proposed trees to be planted as of the 75% Design Submission plans are summarized in the following table.

Tree Type	Botanical Name	Common Name
Shorter Trees	Amelanchier Canadensis	Shadblow Serviceberry
	Cercis Canadensis	Eastern Redbud
	Malus 'Spring Snow’	'Spring Snow' Crabapple
	Ostrya Virginiana	American Hop Hornbeam
Taller Trees	Acer Rubrum ‘Armstrong’	Armstrong Red Maple
	Acer Rubrum 'Red Sunset'	'Red Sunset' Red Maple
	Quercus Alba	White Oak
	Quercus Rubra	Red Oak
	Tilia Cordata	Littleleaf Linden
Evergreen Trees	Juniperus Virginiana	Eastern Redcedar
	Pinus Rigida	Pitch Pine

Private property tree impacts

MassDOT’s standard practice is to minimize impacts to abutters and only acquire private property necessary to construct the proposed improvements. The proposed roadway on Route 9 and Route 27 occupies the majority, if not the entirety, of the State Highway Layout (SHLO). This means there is limited space between the back of sidewalk or Shared-Use-Path (SUP), and private properties, to plant additional trees within the SHLO. The proposed vegetated buffer between the project roadways and SUP is generally not a viable location for tree planting due to the width constraints and / or presence of overhead utilities.

Permanent fee takings and permanent or temporary easements have been acquired to allow for the removal of trees on private property. All takings and easements were acquired by MassDOT in accordance with the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970 (amended in 1987) and Massachusetts General Laws, primarily Chapter 79. Property owners who have been impacted by the removal of trees on their property have received financial compensation through an Award of Damages determined by a qualified appraiser. Awards of Damages are based on the fair market value as of the date of the appraisal. Awards of Damages are made without prejudice and any owner who receives an Award of Damage is empowered to dispute the amount within three years of the date of the recording of the Order of Taking. Property owners who have been paid for easements, takings, and tree removals will have the opportunity to plant new trees on their property adjacent to the location of trees that were removed. The proposed roadway, bicycle, and pedestrian improvements on Route 9 and Route 27 do not prevent the planting of new trees.

Project tree removal and planting plan