Wayne, NJ Tree Protection: Parkway Planting (2026)

The standard sits in the Land Development chapter's Landscaping section and is applied through the Planning Board and the Township's Division of Parks and Forestry. The final plat must show a 5-foot wide sidewalk and shade tree easement along the street line, granted to the Township so its officials and agents can enter to maintain, remove or replant Township shade trees. Planting follows the printed rules: shade trees go along all public rights-of-way, large trees (40 feet high or more at maturity) every 60 feet and medium-sized trees (30 to 40 feet high at maturity) every 50 feet.

Each tree needs a minimum caliper of three inches, and none can stand closer than 15 feet from an existing or proposed street light or street intersection. All trees must be nursery-grown stock with a burlap-wrapped root ball and a two-year replacement guaranty from the developer. Paragraph E fixes the location at 14 feet from the face of the curb, with a four foot sidewalk placed four feet from the face of the curb. Paragraph C lists 22 recommended species, among them Marshall ash, Greenspire linden, Norway maple, red maple, sugar maple, red oak and Japanese zelkova.

Underground electric, telephone and cable utilities go between the curb and the right-of-way so they do not interfere with trees, and the Board can vary the sidewalk, utility and tree locations by resolution when a developer presents good reasons. Planting a tree in any park or street also needs a permit under § 129-17(G), and § 129-13(A) gives the Division of Parks and Forestry full control over the planting and care of shade and ornamental trees on Township-owned land and streets.