Commission plans downtown tree‑canopy map, asks borough engineering for prints

Narberth’s Shade Tree Commission agreed to develop a map and planting recommendations for the downtown commercial area after a field walk to assess canopy gaps and potential planting locations.

Commissioners reported a site walk that covered North Narberth Avenue, Windsor and Forest/Essex and identified areas with many honey locusts, scattered cherries and redbuds, and gaps near the train tracks and along Windsor. Members said one redbud in front of a new apartment building appeared to be missing and suggested the apartment’s land‑development agreement may require replacement plantings.

The commission asked borough engineering staff to provide large‑format prints of the downtown area (roughly Norbert Avenue to Dudley/Banks parking and Haverford to Windsor) so commissioners can mark vacant tree pits and recommend tree clusters and species for specific locations. Commissioners discussed using clusters of three to five mixed native species and matching tree size to adjacent building heights.

The commission also discussed constraints on planting in parks that are subject to long‑range redesigns; members said planting in parks awaiting a master plan risks removal during redevelopment and recommended focusing on streets and stable planting sites when feasible.

Next steps: commissioners will request large‑format maps from borough engineering, walk the mapped areas, mark candidate sites and prepare a map and species recommendations to present to borough council.