Name: Public Hearing: Moratorium on Severely Cutting Back, Topping, Damaging or Removing Canopy Trees in Certain Residential Lot Setback Areas
Start: 2025-05-05T10:00:00-04:00
End: 2025-05-05T12:00:00-04:00
Location: Town Hall

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Public Hearing: Moratorium on Severely Cutting Back, Topping, Damaging or Removing Canopy Trees in Certain Residential Lot Setback Areas

05/05/2025 - 10:00 AM
Location: Town Hall
Address: 104 Tidewaters
Henlopen Acres, DE

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON THE SUBJECT OF IMPOSING A MORATORIUM ON SEVERELY CUTTING BACK, TOPPING, DAMAGING, OR REMOVING CANOPY TREES IN CERTAIN RESIDENTIAL LOT SETBACK AREAS WITHIN THE MUNICIPAL LIMITS OF THE TOWN OF HENLOPEN ACRES

MONDAY, MAY 5TH, 2025 – 10:00 A.M.
TOWN HALL, 104 TIDEWATERS,
HENLOPEN ACRES, DELAWARE, SUSSEX COUNTY
AND VIA ZOOM.

Notice is hereby given, that the Mayor and Commissioners of the Town of Henlopen Acres will hold a PUBLIC HEARING at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, May 5, 2025, at Henlopen Acres Town Hall, 104 Tidewaters, Henlopen Acres, Delaware, Sussex County. The public will also be able to attend the meeting remotely through Zoom. To connect, follow the instructions at the bottom of this page.

The purpose of the Public Hearing is to hear comments on an Ordinance to impose a moratorium on severely cutting back, topping, damaging, or removing canopy trees on private property located in the first 10-feet of the front yard closest to the Town right-of-way, or in any part of the side and rear yards on residential lots. The moratorium would prevent further depletion of the tree canopy in Henlopen Acres while the Mayor and Commissioners review and potentially amend Chapter 114, Trees, of the municipal code of the Town of Henlopen Acres, by replacing Chapter 114, Trees, in its entirety with a new Chapter 114, Trees.

The moratorium shall not apply to: (1) tree removals previously approved by the Environmental Approval Committee but not yet removed and (2) tree removals, for which there is a tree removal contract, predating the April 11, 2025 introduction of this Ordinance, and the site plan pending for 47 Pine Reach and to be reviewed on April 16, 2025 by the Environmental Approval Committee.

The proposed Moratorium Ordinance is subject to the pending ordinance doctrine. Effective April 11, 2025, the date it was introduced at a public meeting of the Mayor and Commissioners, no person shall remove a canopy tree in a manner prohibited by the Moratorium Ordinance. This moratorium shall continue until and including July 10, 2025.

The Board of Commissioners welcomes all residents and property owners to attend the hearing in person or by Zoom and to submit comments prior to the hearing to Town Hall. Comments can be sent by U.S. mail to 104 Tidewaters, Henlopen Acres, DE 19971 or email at townhall@henlopenacres.com. The public comment period will close at 4:30pm on Friday, May 9, 2025.

Please see below for virtual meeting instructions and a link the proposed Moratorium Ordinance. A copy of the proposed Ordinance is also available from Town Hall, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

An Ordinance Imposing a Moratorium on Severely Cutting Back, Topping, Damaging, or Removing Canopy Trees in Certain Residential Lot Setback Areas Within the Municipal Limits of the Town of Henlopen Acres

Public Hearing Notice_Moratorium_FINAL

ZOOM INSTRUCTIONS

Town of Henlopen Acres is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: PUBLIC HEARING: MORATORIUM ON SEVERELY CUTTING BACK, TOPPING, DAMAGING, OR REMOVING CANOPY TREES IN CERTAIN RESIDENTIAL LOT SETBACK AREAS

Time: May 5, 2025 10:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86029415748?pwd=NAuRL0Ytbl47XuQm3b2ZY5ZfqbVEuH.1

Meeting ID: 860 2941 5748

Passcode: 178888

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