Union, NY Tree Protection: Parkway Planting (2026)

Chapter 188 of the Town of Union Code, adopted by the Town Board on 12-3-2023 as L.L. No. 1-2023, states its purpose in one line: to implement uniform practices governing the planting and care of trees on public property. Section 188-5(A) sets the planting and maintenance standard for public trees. The Town continues its current proven practices and, to the extent practicable and economically feasible, endeavors to conform to American National Standards Institute (ANSI) A-300 "Standards for Tree Care Operations" and to follow tree care best management practices. That is a goal the Town sets for itself. The chapter prints no spacing table, species list or minimum planting distance.

Section 188-3 puts the decisions in the hands of the Commissioner of Public Works and Highway Superintendent, or their designees. They hold full authority and responsibility to plant, prune, maintain and remove trees growing in the public property and/or perimeter strip and in rights-of-way of all municipal streets, Town parks and other Town property. The volunteer Tree Committee under § 188-4 is purely advisory to the Town Board. It reviews and updates a five-year proposed plan to plant and maintain trees on Town property and recommends a list of tree species for planting on Town property, but it has no authority over the Commissioner or Highway Superintendent. Its membership is capped at five volunteers approved by the Town Board.

The planting strip itself is defined in § 188-2. A perimeter strip is land not less than 10 feet in width adjacent to a street, side and rear lot lines, designed for visual separation between uses. It must contain earth, with organic mulch or similar material allowed, and it cannot be surfaced in whole or part with concrete, asphalt or other surface material. Public property means grounds owned and specifically maintained by the Town, includes grounds in the perimeter strip, and excludes easements, rights-of-way and property not currently regularly maintained by the Town. A public tree is any tree on Town-owned property.

Private owners carry a duty as well. Under § 188-5(B), the owner or occupant of the premises where trees, bushes or hedges stand must trim them. Ornamental shade trees, bushes and hedges standing within or extending over any public street, avenue or sidewalk in the Town outside the incorporated villages must be trimmed so the lowest branches are not less than 10 feet from the ground and no part of the bushes or hedges extends into the Town's right-of-way. The section cross-references Town Code § 83-7.1.