WEST ORANGE, NJ — Advocates in West Orange are questioning another large-scale tree removal plan, this time connected to a PSE&G project at the corner of Prospect and Mount Pleasant Avenue.
The town council recently passed a local ordinance that regulates the removal and replacement of trees in West Orange. Among other rules, the law requires that residents – and developers – get a permit from the township forester for every tree they cut down.
The new law was put to the test last month, when the owners of a shuttered wedding venue allegedly cut down 246 trees on the property without a permit. See Related: West Orange Slaps New Owners Of The Manor With 246 Tree Summonses
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Our Green West Orange – the nonprofit group that first reported about those allegations – is concerned about another tree removal plan in the township, its members announced earlier this week.
“For over 100 years, [PSE&G’s] station at the corner of Prospect and Mount Pleasant Avenues has been concealed within a park-like setting, surrounded by mature trees and a historic 100-year-old wrought iron fence with brick pillars,” the group said.
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Now, there are plans to replace it with a “cheap black metal prison fence,” advocates said.
“The new fence would significantly diminish the aesthetic and historical value of the area and add to the ongoing depletion of West Orange’s crucial tree canopy,” Our Green West Orange charged.
Patch reached out to PSE&G seeking more details about the project. We received the following reply:
“As part of our ongoing efforts to improve reliability and strengthen our electric infrastructure, we are currently in the land use approvals and permitting phase of a project to upgrade the electric switching station at the corner of Prospect and Mount Pleasant Avenue in West Orange. This station serves thousands of West Orange residents and the surrounding communities and has been providing service since 1928. We have actively been engaged with township officials since April of this year reviewing plans, answering questions, and addressing zoning or variance needs related to the project. As part of this process, we have also notified residents and/or businesses that are within 200 feet of the station, approximately 80 customers, about this project. The current fence does not comply with current industry security standards and will need to be replaced. To complete this work and maintain system reliability, roughly 150 trees will need to be removed.”
In accordance with the town’s ordinances, PSE&G has received approval from the town forester to remove the identified trees, spokespeople said.
“As part of our commitment to ensure a sustainable environmental practice while supporting our communities we will be planting over 300 utility friendly trees,” PSE&G told Patch, adding that the utility provider plans to “continue to have meaningful dialogue with township officials regarding this project.”
“This project is just one example of multiple projects throughout our service territory to upgrade our system to support increased energy use and power flow due to electrification – including the use of electric vehicles and renewable resources,” spokespeople added.
However, Our Green West Orange argues that replacing trees can be a complicated task – and that questions remain about PSE&G’s plan.
Joyce Rudin, an Our Green West Orange board member and town council candidate, argued that the current fence can be “easily repaired” instead of being replaced.
“It does not make sense to destroy trees to install an unattractive metal fence,” Rudin said.
The group said that the planned removal of small-leaf linden trees is “particularly concerning.”
“These are not just any trees—these are some of the most magnificent in all of New Jersey,” Rudin said. Cutting them down would be an irreversible loss to our community’s natural heritage.”
Although PSE&G is required to replace the trees under the township’s new ordinance, Rudin said the replacement trees will be much smaller and will not fully mature for at least 50 years.
West Orange resident and environmental advocate Sally Malanga echoed these concerns.
“Our town needs to protect its trees, not sacrifice them for development,” Malanga said. “PSEG’s own ‘Sustainability Report’ boasts of their commitment to sustainable environmental practice and supporting communities. Why aren’t they doing so here?”
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