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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Radnor Township Shade Tree Commission Meeting - August 26, 2026

Board of Commissioners & Boards — Wednesday, August 26, 2026

BodyRadnor Township, Pennsylvania

SessionBoard of Commissioners & Boards

DateWednesday, August 26, 2026

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 1:11:06

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

0:19

Welcome everybody.

0:21

First up, we have the meeting minutes.

0:23

Um I looked over them, they look pretty good.

0:26

Anybody have any comments?

0:31

All in favor.

0:34

All right.

0:36

Next up consent agenda.

0:38

Nothing for there.

0:40

All right, first up, new grading permits.

0:42

We have uh 119 Runamede Avenue pool.

0:45

Is anybody here for that?

0:47

Hey guys, if you could come up to the podium, introduce yourself and give us a description of the project.

0:56

My name is Mike Holmes from Do you have any plans with you?

0:59

I do not.

1:01

Ian, do you have any plans you could put on the prompt teleprompt or whatever that thing is?

1:09

Uh the um for the commission that this was the one application that Kristen and I asked for more information.

1:16

Uh the there's no trees and but there were no trees on the plan.

1:22

So we didn't know what to do with that.

1:24

So we asked them, and they did send in revised plans, which I sent around, but just so you know.

1:35

Yeah, running me.

1:36

One second.

1:39

So that is the plan with without the trees.

1:43

There's very very minimal trees on the property.

1:46

There's just there's right now there's ten arborvities on the rear line and then ten on the side alongside the house.

1:52

A couple shrubs on the driveway side, but besides that, everything is open, wide open and clear.

2:01

Gotcha.

2:02

Um are you guys?

2:05

Is this the roof line plan?

2:08

That is not the revised plan with the uh couple trees that are there, like the arbor vite.

2:15

But there is a plan with them.

2:17

Yeah, there's yeah, on the rear, next to the garage, there's ten arbor vitees, yeah.

2:22

Gotcha.

2:23

But nothing nothing nowhere near where we're building the swimming pool.

2:27

All right.

2:28

Can you uh where are you coming in and out of the you're building a pool?

2:32

I'm coming in and out of we're going up the driveway, and then there is a rock construction entrance up the driveway.

2:38

On the revised plan, it is extended to the pool.

2:42

Um you can see it up there where the uh longitude and latitude is where the property line is.

2:50

So no trees on the way there.

2:51

No, there's not.

2:54

Are you uh leaving uh dirt on site or you dirt's gonna be hauled away?

3:00

I might leave a little bit of good stuff that's gonna be used at the end to do final grading.

3:04

Um but the majority of the dirt will be hauled away, correct.

3:09

Also, James, on the revised plan, there was shade tree protection on the on the uh hedges and on one small tree.

3:16

That was on the left side of I believe on the left side of the plan.

3:19

That was shown as a tree.

3:23

Thank you.

3:24

Um guys have any concerns, questions, anything?

3:30

Nobody um seeing none, I'll make a motion to approve.

3:34

Do I have a second?

3:35

Second.

3:35

All in favor?

3:36

All right, good luck, guys with the project.

3:38

Thank you.

3:38

Have a good night.

3:42

All right, next up we have uh 212 Wheeler Lane Building and Associated Improvements.

3:47

Anyway, oh good.

3:50

You guys, oh that's me.

3:51

Okay.

3:52

It's been a little while since I've been here.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Parks and Recreation████████████████████████████████████████40%

Engineering And Infrastructure██████████████████18%

Technology and Innovation███████████████15%

Public Engagement█████████████13%

Community Engagement██████6%

Budget Equity Analysis█████5%

Procedural███3%

Summary of Proceedings

Radnor Township Shade Tree Commission Meeting - August 26, 2026

The Radnor Township Shade Tree Commission met on August 26, 2026, to approve meeting minutes, review new grading permits, discuss old business including website updates, riparian projects, fall tree planting, and a look-back clause for the shade tree ordinance, and receive public testimony.

Consent Calendar

Approval of the July 29, 2026 meeting minutes was moved and seconded; all members voted in favor.
No consent agenda items were presented.

Public Comments & Testimony

Jay Margolis, a resident, expressed concern that many neighbors are unaware of the requirement to plant replacement trees after removal. He cited specific examples on his street and questioned enforcement. He also noted tree removal at Oak Hill Senior Living. Commission members responded that Oak Hill's removal was part of an approved plan with replacements and deer fencing. Mr. Margolis was informed that the look-back clause under discussion could address such issues.

Discussion Items

New Grading Permits – Five applications were reviewed:
- 119 Runnymede Ave (pool): No trees removed; 100 cy of dirt to be hauled away. Approved unanimously.
- 212 Wheeler Lane (pool house): Two small trees planted during house construction; tree protection fencing in place; 110 cy of dirt to remain. Approved unanimously.
- 317 Devon Ave (new dwelling): Four trees to be removed (one more than initially stated on the permit). Approved contingent on correcting the grading permit to show four trees instead of three.
- 645 Radnor Valley Road (addition): No applicant present; motion to table to a future meeting carried.
- 415 Midland Ave (pool, pool house, patio): One tree to be removed; tree protection fencing; 100 cy of dirt to be removed. Approved unanimously.
Old Business –
- STC Website Preview: Ian presented an updated website built using the Radnor Trees blueprint. The site includes pages for agendas, members, news, tree plantings, volunteer activities, and sponsorships. It will remain live for a few days for commission review, then be unpublished until an official relaunch. Links to external sites (e.g., Scott Arboretum) may be added in the future.
- Williams Riparian Project: BOC approval received; initial mowing being scheduled; 30 bare root trees ordered; additional 72 trees and 134 shrubs to be ordered in September. Planting day set for November 8th (rain date November 9th), with volunteers from Villanova and others. A second mowing will be done in early November.
- Warren Filipone Memorial Park Riparian Maintenance: Gerard property management to perform clearing, likely in September, after the Willows project.
- Fall Bare Root Tree Planting: 25 trees available for residents at a cost of $3,775 from the commemorative shade tree fund (no BOC approval needed). Sign-up will be publicized; trees will be installed by volunteers or public works.
- Tree Checking/Maintenance: Kristen reported on a form being developed to evaluate trees planted two years ago. Supplies (tape measures, etc.) are ordered. Awaiting PHS timeline to ensure data acceptance. Potential volunteer coordination with Radnor Conservancy discussed.
- Shade Tree Ordinance Look Back Clause: Kristen reviewed the need for a provision to require replacement of trees removed without a permit. She will draft an ordinance based on other township models and circulate one week before the next meeting.
- Ordinance Change – Tree Protection Fence: Still awaiting feedback from the township.
- Budget Discussion: Ricky suggested asking the BOC for a $10,000 annual line item. Commissioners debated; Frank will prepare a presentation for the next meeting. A motion to proceed with the presentation was agreed.
- New Business: Comprehensive plan draft is out; Frank will report back. Fall Fest on September 20th: the commission will have a table; supplies are ready. Exploring a Venmo option for donations.
Hazardous Trees: John presented lists of trees removed by residents (July and August) and by the township. No questions or comments.

Key Outcomes

Minutes of July 29, 2026 approved.
Grading permits approved for 119 Runnymede, 212 Wheeler, 317 Devon (with condition), and 415 Midland. 645 Radnor Valley tabled.
Website: Commission to review within a week; then unpublish until relaunch at next meeting.
Williams riparian riparian planting date set for November 8th with volunteers.
Frank to present a $10,000 budget line-item request to BOC at the next meeting.
Kristen to circulate draft look-back ordinance one week before next meeting.
Fall Fest table confirmed; donations via Venmo being investigated.
Meeting adjourned.

Meeting Transcript

Welcome everybody. First up, we have the meeting minutes. Um I looked over them, they look pretty good. Anybody have any comments? All in favor. All right. Next up consent agenda. Nothing for there. All right, first up, new grading permits. We have uh 119 Runamede Avenue pool. Is anybody here for that? Hey guys, if you could come up to the podium, introduce yourself and give us a description of the project. My name is Mike Holmes from Do you have any plans with you? I do not. Ian, do you have any plans you could put on the prompt teleprompt or whatever that thing is? Uh the um for the commission that this was the one application that Kristen and I asked for more information. Uh the there's no trees and but there were no trees on the plan. So we didn't know what to do with that. So we asked them, and they did send in revised plans, which I sent around, but just so you know. Yeah, running me. One second. So that is the plan with without the trees. There's very very minimal trees on the property. There's just there's right now there's ten arborvities on the rear line and then ten on the side alongside the house. A couple shrubs on the driveway side, but besides that, everything is open, wide open and clear. Gotcha. Um are you guys? Is this the roof line plan? That is not the revised plan with the uh couple trees that are there, like the arbor vite. But there is a plan with them. Yeah, there's yeah, on the rear, next to the garage, there's ten arbor vitees, yeah. Gotcha. But nothing nothing nowhere near where we're building the swimming pool. All right. Can you uh where are you coming in and out of the you're building a pool? I'm coming in and out of we're going up the driveway, and then there is a rock construction entrance up the driveway. On the revised plan, it is extended to the pool. Um you can see it up there where the uh longitude and latitude is where the property line is. So no trees on the way there. No, there's not. Are you uh leaving uh dirt on site or you dirt's gonna be hauled away? I might leave a little bit of good stuff that's gonna be used at the end to do final grading. Um but the majority of the dirt will be hauled away, correct. Also, James, on the revised plan, there was shade tree protection on the on the uh hedges and on one small tree. That was on the left side of I believe on the left side of the plan. That was shown as a tree. Thank you. Um guys have any concerns, questions, anything? Nobody um seeing none, I'll make a motion to approve. Do I have a second?

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