Billerica LORAX Committee advances draft tree preservation bylaw for town meeting

BILLERICA -- February 11, 2026, Billerica's LORAX Committee is drafting the town's first tree preservation bylaw, targeting development projects rather than routine private removals. Working from an early draft circulated during the February 11 meeting, members agreed the bylaw would require applicants removing healthy trees during new or modified construction to either replant on site or contribute to a town tree fund, while exempting diseased, dead, or invasive trees and those posing a safety hazard. The committee discussed a proposed 25-foot clearance zone around new structures and driveways within which trees could be removed without mitigation, citing construction equipment damage to root systems. Members identified the building commissioner, referenced only as Mark, as a likely linchpin in enforcement, routing tree-plan submissions through whichever permitting body the project already touches. The committee adjourned unanimously and set its next meeting for March 11 at 6:15 p.m., with plans to invite the building commissioner to clarify how permit applications could flag tree-removal obligations.