SAUGUS — Tree Warden Tim Wendell agreed to cut down a pair of trees on the property line at 6 Stanley Terrace and 17 Wakefield Ave. he deemed a credible threat to the Wakefield Avenue property during a Tree Hearing Monday night.
But, Wendell and Tree Committee members rejected the bulk of the request from the residents at 17 Wakefield Ave., Christina, and Peter Capobianco, who sought to cut down nine more trees they felt were credible threats to fall on their property. In what was clearly a years-long quest to remove the Norway Maples abutting their property, the Capobiancos set up a number of exhibits in the town hall conference room, pointing Tree Committee members to images of fallen branches and other incidents deemed close calls.
Because 6 Stanley Terrace is a town-owned property, Wendell and the committee were required to call a public hearing to discuss the fates of the trees.
Much of the case made by the couple to remove the trees came in the form of a letter from Anthony Loria, a certified treecare society professional at Iron Tree Service. Loria’s letter, which Christina Capobianco read into the record, notes that Norway Maples are an invasive species and, at least according to Loria, are “riskier than other tree species” and “tend to be more brittle and unpredictable during storms, made worse by drought seasons and wet springs.”
“I recommend that all the trees of concern on 6 Stanley Terrace (within striking distance of the house) be completely removed,” Loria’s letter, dated Jan. 5, 2023, reads. “The Capobiancos are justified in their concern for their safety. As a Certified Treecare Safety Professional, I would not want trees like these near my own house.”
The Capobiancos also presented the committee with a petition supporting the tree removal signed by many of their neighbors, including the residents of 4 Stanley Terrace.
Christina Capobianco stressed that she and her husband were concerned for their safety, and Peter Capobianco said he often goes to bed at night worrying about the trees falling and coming crashing through his home.
Peter Capobianco noted that he had paid to take down several trees on his property that were threatening a neighbor’s after a tree fell onto the neighbor’s property.
But those concerns largely fell on deaf ears with the committee and Wendell.
Committee Chair Nancy Prag noted that many of the trees planted around town are Norway Maples and expressed concern about setting a precedent by agreeing to cut down all 11 trees the Capobinacos had expressed concern about.
At one point, the hearing spiraled into a neighborhood dispute, with Candy Jarosz, who lives at 5 Stanley Terrace, vocally objecting to the request to cut down trees she said were closer to her property than 17 Wakefield Ave. Jarosz’s property sits southeast of 6 Stanley Terrace.
Jarosz, who is the daughter-in-law of Board of Selectmen Clerk Janice Jarosz, said throughout the 26 years she has lived on Stanley Terrace, she has never seen a tree come down and said the Capobiancos had viewed the trees as a “nuisance” since they moved in.
Peter Capobianco accused Jarosz of making inaccurate statements, and Wendell had to intervene to prevent the two from arguing back and forth.
At one point, Tree Committee member Andy DeSantis suggested that the town cut down the two trees in question on the eastern end of the property line, but Wendell rejected that, saying he felt the town should not be cutting down trees that have a 5-inch diameter at breast height.
Prag noted, the committee’s role was to protect trees. The Capobiancos did not present any plans to plant new trees in the area if they were successful in their request to remove the existing Norway Maples.
Wendell ultimately deemed two of the trees to be hazardous, as they were the closest to the property line and were leaning towards the Capobianco home on Wakefield Avenue. As the tree warden, Wendell has the authority to cut down trees he deems hazardous. But, he said removal would likely not take place until July, with little money left in the budget to fund the service.
The trees “may be a little stronger than you think,” Wendell told the Capobiancos.
In an interview following the hearing, Peter Capobianco said he felt he and his wife presented “so much important information that couldn’t get any traction” and accused Candy Jarosz of going on a “barrage.” He called the result “extremely disappointing” and “completely unfair.”
“This is an example of local town politics,” he said, accusing Candy Jarosz of being “the epicenter of a problem.”
Peter Capobianco said he felt that much of the information he and his wife presented and much of the conversation during the hearing had been “twisted… out of shape.”
“What they are saying here is totally off base,” he said. “These trees are dangerous… they are falling apart.”
