April 27, 2026
I want to take a moment to recognize something we can all agree on: trees are an important and valued part of our community. They provide beauty, shade, environmental benefits, and help define the character of our neighborhoods.
That said, I recently saw a post from a councilwoman that I believe was misleading, and it’s important to provide some context and clarity.
Everyone in our community cares about trees—but people can have different perspectives on how to balance preservation with responsible development. The reality is that much of our town, including neighborhoods many of us call home, was once woods. In fact, if you walk outside your home, there’s a strong chance that trees once stood where your house now sits. That is simply the history of how communities evolve.
The name “Norwood” comes from “north woods,” a reminder of what this area once was. Over time, as families settled here, those woods gradually made way for homes, schools, the parks and athletic fields, and our downtown area. Change is not always easy, and not everyone welcomes it, but it has always been a part of our town’s story.
In 2005 the Borough donated 125 acres of land to the Meadowlands Conservation Trust. These woods can never be built upon. They are preserved forever. The land is owned is by the Borough and the Meadowlands Conservation Trust has an easement on the property. This easement offers even more protection to the land. I invite everyone to visit www.meadowlandsconservationtrust.org.
Importantly, over the last 20 years, there have been very few subdivisions in our community. We continue to maintain a significant amount of wooded areas throughout town, and the limited number of trees removed for development does not come close to diminishing the overall number of trees we are fortunate to have.
It’s also worth noting that the recent applications involving tree removal that have come before the governing body have been unanimously approved. These decisions are not made lightly, but with careful consideration of both property rights and good of the community.
I respect that some residents would choose never to remove a tree from their property. In fact, when I built my own home, I made the personal decision to preserve every tree. But that was my choice as a property owner and others may make different, equally valid decisions about their own property.
Places we cherish today, like our recreation fields, the community garden, our school and the downtown area were once wooded as well. Thoughtful development has allowed us to create the amenities and neighborhoods we enjoy.
I will be providing a follow-up with additional facts regarding recent development discussions to ensure residents have accurate information.
Whether we like it or not, change will continue, and none of us can predict exactly what our community will look like in 20 or 40 years. What we can do is continue to guide that change responsibly, with respect for both our environment and our residents.
I will also continue to call out divisiveness when I see it. We can have honest discussions without misrepresenting facts, and our community is stronger when we focus on that shared respect.
That said, I recently saw a post from a councilwoman that I believe was misleading, and it’s important to provide some context and clarity.
Everyone in our community cares about trees—but people can have different perspectives on how to balance preservation with responsible development. The reality is that much of our town, including neighborhoods many of us call home, was once woods. In fact, if you walk outside your home, there’s a strong chance that trees once stood where your house now sits. That is simply the history of how communities evolve.
The name “Norwood” comes from “north woods,” a reminder of what this area once was. Over time, as families settled here, those woods gradually made way for homes, schools, the parks and athletic fields, and our downtown area. Change is not always easy, and not everyone welcomes it, but it has always been a part of our town’s story.
In 2005 the Borough donated 125 acres of land to the Meadowlands Conservation Trust. These woods can never be built upon. They are preserved forever. The land is owned is by the Borough and the Meadowlands Conservation Trust has an easement on the property. This easement offers even more protection to the land. I invite everyone to visit www.meadowlandsconservationtrust.org.
Importantly, over the last 20 years, there have been very few subdivisions in our community. We continue to maintain a significant amount of wooded areas throughout town, and the limited number of trees removed for development does not come close to diminishing the overall number of trees we are fortunate to have.
It’s also worth noting that the recent applications involving tree removal that have come before the governing body have been unanimously approved. These decisions are not made lightly, but with careful consideration of both property rights and good of the community.
I respect that some residents would choose never to remove a tree from their property. In fact, when I built my own home, I made the personal decision to preserve every tree. But that was my choice as a property owner and others may make different, equally valid decisions about their own property.
Places we cherish today, like our recreation fields, the community garden, our school and the downtown area were once wooded as well. Thoughtful development has allowed us to create the amenities and neighborhoods we enjoy.
I will be providing a follow-up with additional facts regarding recent development discussions to ensure residents have accurate information.
Whether we like it or not, change will continue, and none of us can predict exactly what our community will look like in 20 or 40 years. What we can do is continue to guide that change responsibly, with respect for both our environment and our residents.
I will also continue to call out divisiveness when I see it. We can have honest discussions without misrepresenting facts, and our community is stronger when we focus on that shared respect.