A hearing was held on Wednesday, March 19 regarding the removal of trees on LaSalle Road as well as one tree on South Main Street in West Hartford Center.

By Ronni Newton

West Hartford Director of Public Works John Phillips, who is also the tree warden for the town, held a public hearing on Wednesday, March 19 and on Thursday, March 20 issued his official decision regarding the removal of trees in the Center.

“Following the public meeting held on March 19, 2025, at West Hartford Town Hall, and after thorough consideration of all public comments, I have decided on the proposed removal of thirty-six (36) trees along LaSalle Road and one (1) tree on South Main Street as part of the West Hartford Center Infrastructure Project (“Project”),” Phillips announced Thursday afternoon in the decision, which is also posted at West Hartford Town Hall.

With the exception of the tree at the northwest corner of South Main Street and Ellsworth Road, the trees, all of which are honey locusts, are being removed all at once as the long-discussed West Hartford Center Infrastructure Master Plan project is set to commence, with construction slated to begin on LaSalle Road on March 31, according to the town’s Engineering Division.

The South Main Street tree is “lifting up the sidewalk, making it ADA inaccessible,” Phillips told We-Ha.com.

In rendering his decision, Phillips noted that “improvements require sidewalks, streetscapes, and utility infrastructure modifications that cannot be completed without removing the identified trees.” Many of the trees, which were planted roughly 50 years ago, are in poor health, he said.

In addition, the trees roots have impacted the sidewalks, making them uneven in many areas and creating tripping hazards and accessibility and mobility concerns. One of the primary goals of the Infrastructure Master Plan is to make West Hartford Center more pedestrian friendly and safer.

We also did an extensive tree survey, where we hired an expert to come out and just assess the overall health and condition of the trees, and that was also part of the driver for this,” Town Engineer Greg Sommer said at Wednesday’s hearing.

Working around the existing trees would not really be feasible either, Sommer said, as the sidewalks are all being replaced and the curb lines are being removed, and the signficance of the work would further impact the roots of any trees that would remain.

The existing 36 trees on LaSalle Road will be replaced by 52 new trees – several different varieties that are all native species. The intent, as Phillips noted and Sommer highlighted at the tree hearing, is to establish a “more extensive, diverse, and superior-growing tree canopy” to ensure greater resiliency and “vibrant urban forest for future generations.”

The new trees will be planted utilizing soil cells, which the town’s construction manager for the project, M&J Engineering, described in a handout provided at the tree hearing as “innovative structures designed to enhance urban tree growth and stormwater management. They provide a solution to the challenges of soil compaction and limited soil volume in urban environments.” The soil cells are designed to promote healthy tree root growth and manage stormwater runoff, but are designed so that the tree growth will not impact the paved surfaces in the surrounding area.

Four residents spoke at Wednesday’s hearing, some asking for at least some of the existing trees to be preserved.

Scott Boden said the trees “are an integral part of our community’s character, providing aesthetic beauty, shade, and environmental benefits for residents and visitors alike.” He said he doesn’t think the trees pose a hazard to pedestrians or vehicles, and expressed concern that new trees could take 20 years to reach the same type of canopy.

Another speaker said he believes that the impetus for replacing the trees might be from restaurants looking to increase their footprint and have additional outdoor dining space, while another speaker suggested more opportunity for public input prior to making the changes.

Robert Garrey said he hopes that in 20 years the new trees won’t need to be cut down “because they’re too big for the space.”

In his decision, Phillips wrote: “As the Tree Warden for the Town of West Hartford, I remain committed to preserving and enhancing our urban forest. While tree removal is never taken lightly, the plan presented by the Town represents a strategic effort to balance development and sustainability. The Town will plant various tree species that are better suited to the evolving urban environment, providing greater ecological benefits and aesthetic appeal,” ensuring “a greener and more vibrant future for West Hartford.”

The tree warden’s decision, issued March 2o, is final, Phillips said. The decision is made “in accordance with Connecticut General Statutes §23-59” and according to the statute, “any person aggrieved by this decision may appeal to the Hartford Superior Court within ten (10) days.”

Tree hearings are not common occurrences in West Hartford, but this is the second one Phillips has presided over in his tenure as tree warden. The first was in May 2024, and was in regards to the planned removal of Bartlett Pear trees on Boulevard. In that case, a decision was made to preserve the trees, but to prune them extensively to ensure they no longer impacted power lines.

Gerber Construction Inc. is the contractor hired to implement the Infrastructure Master Plan, with M&J Engineering serving as the construction manager. Updates will be posted to the town’s website under the Engineering Division tab.

The most recent update states that construction is scheduled to begin on LaSalle Road on March 31. “Each phase will include a work area approximately 300-400 feet in length and will be limited to one side of the street. A maximum of two work areas will be active at any time. Construction work schedules will be coordinated closely with the Town and businesses. The reconstruction of LaSalle Road is expected to be complete in 2025. Work on Farmington Avenue is expected to be completed in 2026, but will not begin until LaSalle Road is substantially complete. No work will be permitted during the period of November 22, 2025 to January 4, 2026.”

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