PLYMOUTH, Mass. — The dozens of trees cut down in February at an historic park in Plymouth were worth a six-figure dollar sum, according to a report compiled by an arborist contracted by the Town of Plymouth.
David Hawkins of Urban Forestry Solutions, Inc. joined Department of Public Works Director John Beder and Assistant Town Manager Marlene McCollum on March 18 to identify and inspect the area where the trees were cut at Burton Park.
>>RELATED: Developer removes 45 trees from historic Plymouth park without permission
In a report to Beder dated March 25, obtained by Boston 25 News, Hawkins stated the appraised value of the tree loss and damage is $139,449.
Hawkins found 46 trees were cut down and six other trees were damaged. He examined the tree stumps to estimate the age, height and type of trees cut down. Some trees were 60 to 80 feet high and up to 80 years old.
The estimated value of the trees that were chopped down ranged from $10 to $14,455 to total $115,489. The damage to the other six trees ranged from $649 to $7,085 to total $23,960.
“The tree removal that took place on the sloped woodland of Burton Park has increased the visual buffer between Whiting Street and the commercial properties at the base of the slope, reduced the aesthetics of the area and changed the canopied woodland environment previously enjoyed by the residents of Whiting Street,” Hawkins stated in his report.
Hawkins said replacing the trees is not a possibility, which is why he placed a monetary value on them instead.
“This type of woodland takes decades to form and cannot be replaced with a designed landscape,” Hawkins stated in the report. “Over the next few growing seasons, the cleared area will start to fill in with small trees, shrubs and ground cover; some of it invasive — especially since it is now open to sunlight.”
An overhead photo of the area captured by Hawkins on March 18 shows a reduced canopy compared to a Google Earth image taken in February 2017.
Town leaders allege the developer, MEGRYCO, Inc., had the trees chopped down in order to create better ocean views and increase the property value for an up-and-coming rental property at the site of the former Mt. Pleasant School across from the park.
Rich Vayo, president of MEGRYCO, Inc., told Boston 25 News he had a certified arborist cut down the trees due to a misunderstanding. He said when the error was pointed out, he immediately communicated with the town to rectify the situation.
Vayo sent the following updated statement to Boston 25 News on Thursday:
<span class="wsc-grammar-problem" data-grammar-phrase="" data-grammar-rule="EN_UNPAIRED_BRACKETS" data-wsc-lang="en_US">"</span>As of today, we just received the report and have not had any formal discussions with the town. As such, we would reserve comment out of respect for town Management and the Board of Selectman. MEGRYCO, Inc. has and always will stand behind its commitment to Plymouth. This unfortunate situation is no exception and we expect to be part of a positive outcome. When requested by the town, we will continue discussions to come to a resolution that benefits the greater Plymouth community.<span class="wsc-grammar-problem" data-grammar-phrase="" data-grammar-rule="EN_UNPAIRED_BRACKETS" data-wsc-lang="en_US">"</span>
Plymouth Town Manager Melissa Arrighi told Boston 25 News the town's Board of Selectmen will discuss their strategy on how to processed during an executive session on Tuesday. Depending on the results of that confidential meeting, the item has tentatively been placed on the agenda for the open session of the selectmen's meeting on April 9.
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