In February, town crews will begin trimming all street trees and trees growing on Town-owned or controlled property to ensure adequate street, sidewalk and driveway clearance. Scheduled for completion in 2022, the work will be performed by and under the direct supervision of arborists certified by the International Society of Arboriculture.
The Town of Wake Forest maintains all trees growing on Town-owned or controlled property, including parks, greenways and Town facilities. The Town also maintains all street trees which are located within the public street right of way or within a street tree easement, measuring eight feet inside private property.
The street right-of-way is typically measured from back of sidewalk, to back of sidewalk (or if there are no sidewalks, property line to property line) perpendicular across the street. Trees planted between the curb and sidewalk, or between the curb and property line, are considered within the public right-of-way. Trees planted in a street tree easement are often planted within the eight-foot zone outside the right-of-way or eight feet within the homeowner’s property line.
The Town was granted the street tree easements for the express purpose of tree maintenance and care.
Before beginning tree trimming operations in a Wake Forest neighborhood or subdivision, Town officials will utilize yard signs and Nextdoor, the private social network for neighborhoods, to notify residents in the area.
Free for both Wake Forest residents and the town, Nextdoor allows neighborhoods to establish and self-manage their own Nextdoor websites. Residents who join their neighborhood websites can share information about neighborhood public safety issues, community events and activities, local services and more. Nextdoor also allows the Town and the police department to post news advisories and emergency notifications and announcements about programs, services and special events to Nextdoor websites within Wake Forest.
Nextdoor has already proven to be a well-adopted tool for many Wake Forest residents. To date, 94 Wake Forest neighborhoods have started their own Nextdoor website which is accessible only to residents who verify that they live in the neighborhood. Altogether, over 16,200 Wake Forest households currently participate in Nextdoor.
Those interested in joining their neighborhood’s Nextdoor website can visitwww.nextdoor.com and enter their address. If Nextdoor is available in their area, they can immediately sign up. If a Nextdoor website has not yet been established for their area, active and engaged neighbors are invited to apply to bring Nextdoor to their neighborhood. Citizens who have questions about their Nextdoor website are encouraged to visit help.nextdoor.com.
Wake Forest has been a Tree City USA every year since 1979 and has received the Growth Award every year since 2000. To be recognized as a Tree City USA – the towns and cities must meet four standards: Standard 1: A Tree Board or Department; Standard 2: A Community Tree Ordinance; Standard 3: A Community Forestry Program with an Annual Budget of at least $2 per capita; and Standard 4: An Arbor Day Observance and Proclamation.
The Tree City USA Growth Award recognizes eligible communities for innovative programs and projects that demonstrate a higher level of tree care and increased commitment of resources for urban forestry programs.
For more information, contact Urban Forester Luke Devores at 919-435-9565 orldevores@wakeforestnc.gov.
#
