Ritzy New York suburb is torn apart by new law that makes it easier for homeowners to chop down trees to expand their million dollar homes

Residents in a rich New York City suburb are divided over a new law surrounding the removal of trees on sprawling properties. 

Mamaroneck introduced a new measure in February that requires tree removal permits on smaller lots that account for around 80 percent of the town. 

Property owners do not have to explain removal requests, describe the trees or tell their neighbors they have been issued a permit. They are required to replace those removed or be approved to donate $300 per tree to a planting fund. 

But some locals do not see why they need approval to get rid of any trees on their properties if they want to expand their homes.

Others are concerned the new law will lead to more trees in Mamaroneck being cut down.

Residents in a rich New York City suburb are divided over a new law surrounding the removal of trees on sprawling properties

Mamaroneck introduced a new measure in February that requires tree removal permits on smaller lots that account for around 80 percent of the town

Lawyer Robert Herbst, who grew up in Mamaroneck and returned in 1992, sees the removing of trees as a huge threat during climate change. 

Dermatologist Jacob Levitt told The New York Times: 'We should be protecting trees for our own survival. It’s suicidal not to do it.

The previous tree law in the town, enacted in the 1980s, meant permits were only needed on properties which were 20,000 square feet and larger.

But the latest law covers 80 percent of lots in Mamaroneck and small homes can remove three trees a year while larger ones can remove seven.

There is also a scale for the amount of trees that need to replanted depending on the age and size of each one removed.  

A mature tree that has a trunk diameter of over a foot and a half has to be replaced by four young trees. 

'It’s just a regulated way of cutting down trees,' lawyer Andrea Hirsch, who is representing residents challenging the new law in court, said. 

She added that the latest measure does not need an environmental review before trees are removed and property owners could be allowed to exceed their cap if a tree gets in the way of how they want to use their home.

Longtime resident John Phillipson said: 'My property, my trees. We are overregulated by government as it is.'

Property owners do not have to explain removal requests, describe the trees or tell their neighbors they have been issued a permit. They are required to replace those removed or be approved to donate $300 per tree to a planting fund

The town is seeing rapid development and has led to tree canopy cover declining by seven percent between 2011 and 2021

The lawsuit from residents against the new measures is pending and both sides are scheduled to appear in court this month.

There is a problem with flooding within Mamaroneck due to the two major rivers nearby. 

The town is seeing rapid development and has led to tree canopy cover declining by seven percent between 2011 and 2021.

'As tree canopy cover declines, you can see tangible increases in local temperatures and an increased reliance on electricity for cooling homes and buildings,' Dr Andrew Reinmann said. 

Trees are essential for providing shade, intercepting rain and releasing moisture back into the air but some residents in Mamaroneck do not want to be told what to do. 

There is a problem with flooding within Mamaroneck due to the two major rivers nearby

Town supervisor Jaine Elkind Eney said: 'We’ll be increasing the tree canopy, albeit over time'

'I’d like to see the law more relaxed and give the homeowner a chance to do what they need to do,' Phillipson said. 

Mamaroneck's environmental advisory group grew concerned at the increased number of trees being removed leading to rising temperatures and floods. 

It decided to bring forward the law to limit the number of tree removal permits but activists believe it has just made it too easy. 

Town supervisor Jaine Elkind Eney said: 'We’ll be increasing the tree canopy, albeit over time.'  

Around half of the municipalities in Westchester County have tree laws for private property and public spaces.