If the East Hills’ architectural review board determines that a tree located on a property undergoing construction must be removed but cannot be replaced, residents will now be charged $300, the village’s board of trustees ruled Wednesday. 

The unanimous decision also established a village beautification fund through which the tree removal fee will finance the planting of trees, bushes and flowers in other parts of East Hills.

“This is for where there is no opportunity to replant a tree due to construction,” said William Burton, the village’s attorney. 

Burton said the architectural review board could suggest a homeowner replant a portion of trees at a different section of the property and contribute fee payments for the remainder of the trees into the fund.

The $300 fee will be enforced per tree, Burton said. 

The Board of Trustees had considered a sliding fee scale in which fees increase based on the number of trees the architectural review board decides cannot be replanted on a property.

But, Burton said, the two boards reached a compromise to freeze the per-tree fee at $300, between the $150 fee some board members proposed and the up to $800 fee recommended by others.

East Hills resident Joel Sheinbaum said the law is unfair to residents who have multiple trees on their property and questioned whether the law would protect residents who lose trees during storms. 

Village of East Hills Mayor Michael Koblenz said the law would only apply to residents with construction applications.

“In your case,” Koblenz said, “the law does not pertain. It’s only for building on your property.”