Delaware Shade Tree Commission Meeting - September 23, 2026

Note: The agenda lists this meeting as September 22, 2026, at 6:30 PM, while the provided official timestamp indicates September 23, 2026. This summary uses the official timestamp date.

The Delaware Shade Tree Commission met to approve the July 28, 2026, meeting minutes, hear one public comment, receive the arborist's update, and review a Route 42 commercial site's street-tree planting plan. The commission approved the minutes, tabled the planting-plan review, and directed staff to revise the species list.

Approval of July 28, 2026, Motion Summary

• The Motion Summary from the July 28, 2026, meeting was approved as recorded and transcribed. Commissioner Kerry noted that some tree stumps ("steppings") still needed to be dropped off, and the commission agreed the record should note that the party "showed up" to handle it.

Public Comments & Testimony

• One written comment was received about burning bush (Euonymus alatus) being planted at the site under review. The commenter suggested a native alternative. The commission discussed recommending that the applicant substitute a different species.

Arborist / Staff Updates

• The 2026 Tree City USA application has been submitted, and the fall tree order is in place. Staff said planting numbers have been steady or rising.
• Stump-grinding requests are currently at 22 and are expected to grow once fall stump grinding is complete; the pace is about the same as the previous year. Service requests are up, with the prior year likely ending in the high 200s.
• In response to commissioner questions, staff said the city receives frequent requests for memorial or "adopt a tree" plantings; a tree service now handles the planting and provides a plaque. The old share-type program from the emerald ash borer era is no longer in place, and the city's website should be updated to reflect the current process.

Discussion Items: Route 42 Commercial Site Plan Review

• The commission reviewed a planting plan for a commercial site on Route 42, currently a wide-open gravel lot. The proposal would add street trees along the new road frontage and extend the right-of-way while preserving some existing trees.
• Commissioners observed there are no street trees anywhere in that area and that the road is used mainly by the dealership. They questioned whether street trees make sense there and expressed concern about the ongoing maintenance burden on a two-person city forestry staff responsible for 23,000 street trees.
• Members discussed a problematic precedent, citing the city recently spending about $4,500 to remove silver maples within the Central right-of-way where no sidewalk existed; residents had maintained those trees for 15-20 years until the city got the bill. Similar situations could arise with new plantings that the city would ultimately have to maintain.
• The plan proposed Autumn Blaze maples along Route 42 (noted as outside the right-of-way) plus burning bush. Discussing the burning bush, one commissioner said it was "so overused and so sickly" and asked for greater diversity; New Jersey tea was raised as an important nectar source for a native butterfly, and slow-growing, shade-tolerant understory trees (such as hornbeam, maturing around 25-30 feet) were discussed as good fits for the overflow parking area.
• Another commissioner favored London plane trees and noted that with the new 8-foot-wide tree lawn and changed sidewalk base material, larger street trees are now possible.
• The commission agreed by consensus to table the plan until the next meeting. Staff will mark up a new plan using smaller, understory, or "maintenance-variety" trees and will recommend that the applicant choose native substitutes for burning bush.

Commissioner Comments & Discussion

• A commissioner raised the idea of recognizing businesses, possibly related to the memorial/legacy tree program, but did not want to consider it that day. The commission asked for research and plans to take up the topic at a future meeting.
• Staff agreed to update the website to reflect the current memorial-tree process, and a commissioner offered to email material to help with that update.

Key Outcomes

• Approved the July 28, 2026, Motion Summary (passed by consensus; no tally recorded).
• Tabled the Route 42 site plan review and directed staff to return with a revised planting plan that includes smaller understory/low-maintenance species and native alternatives to burning bush.
• Deferred the business-recognition idea pending research.
• Directed the city website to be updated to describe the current memorial/legacy tree program.
• The revised Route 42 plan and the recognition-topic research are expected to be discussed at the next meeting.