Milwaukee Tree border restrictions loosened

At its Sept. 30 meeting, the city’s Public Works Committee voted 4-0 to loosen planting restrictions in the tree border, the earthen strip between Milwaukee sidewalks and streets, in an effort to encourage rather than penalize the greening of the entire city.

Plants in the tree border may now legally be as tall as 36 inches, up from 24 inches. They no longer need to be planted 18 inches from curb or sidewalk, either, so long as vegetation does not obviously obstruct the public way. 

The policy change comes in wake of Josef Bieniek, resident of Milwaukee’s Riverwest neighborhood, contesting city foresters’ enforcement of the tree border ordinance passed earlier this year, which for the first time legally permitted limited planting. Bieniek maintained native plantings in his tree border, some in excess of the height restriction. He circulated a petition in support of his garden and opposition to the existing ordinance language and won the support of his alderman, Nik Kovac, who with Garden District Alderman Terry Witkowski, supported the revisions to the ordinance.

At the meeting, aldermen expressed a desire that anyone doing significant excavation in the tree border or elsewhere call Diggers Hotline before breaking ground. Diggers Hotline is 811 or (800) 242-8511.

More info: Milwaukee Common Council File 090595.

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