Letters

I am writing to express my doubts as to the rationale provided by the owner for cutting down two magnificent trees [“Tree Removal Case Makes Its Way Through Sag Harbor Justice Court,” 27east.com, August 7].

The Express reported that the owner said she had been told by the Suffolk County Department of Health Services, which oversees the installation of wastewater systems, that she needed to provide 50 feet of clearance from the tree to the system for it to function properly. Further, she stated that “the Health Department demanded that “I take down (a) tree” on another village project last year for a similar reason.

I have been in the process of gaining approval for a similar nitrogen-reducing system on my village property, and, as I have a few very large trees, this story piqued my interest.

I asked a couple of people more knowledgeable than I and was told that the only regulation that the Suffolk County Department of Health Services has is that you cannot have a shallow drain field within 10 feet of a tree, but you can reduce this to 5 feet if you install a root barrier. Further, I was told, that there is no setback for leaching pools and leaching galleys from trees.

This was weekend chatter, and before writing I thought it best to confirm with the Suffolk County Department of Health Services personnel, who indeed confirmed my understanding of these regulations this morning.

Beyond the inaccurate information provided by the owner about septic systems and trees, I was taken aback by the planting plan that was presented to the Board of Historic Preservation and Architectural Review (along with the design of the seven-bedroom, nine-bath house on a double lot). The landscape plan as presented is a combination of decorative trees — dogwoods, crepe myrtles and green giants — and does not comply to the remedies for noncompliance as outlined in Sag Harbor’s tree preservation code.

As this case is currently before Justice Court, I am hopeful that a landscape plan that complies to existing remediation requirements will be mandated so that in some small way our community is made whole for the loss of these two beauties.

Mary Ann Eddy

Member

Environmental Advisory Committee

Sag Harbor Village