By David Kilby, Staff Writer
CRANBURY — The Cranbury New Jersey Turnpike Tree Subcommittee will deliver its report to the state tomorrow.
The report will explain how the township plans to use the $766,703 granted by the state for the purchasing, planting and maintenance of trees.
The state has granted money for the replacement of the trees it tore down in the widening of the turnpike. Originally, the state planned to grant Cranbury the money for 9,000 trees over three phases, but, thus far, the state only has guaranteed the $766,703, which is only enough for 2,556 trees.
The subcommittee plans to place all 2,556 trees on the 14-acre Hagerty property on Old Cranbury Road.
Originally, the subcommittee made plans for planting trees in various areas around town since it hoped to get about twice as much money. But now that the town is only receiving $766,703, the subcommittee had to choose just one location so they can complete at least part of the project. The location they chose was the Hagerty property.
The money given by the state can only be used for purchasing, planting and maintaining the trees, but after doing the math, the subcommittee and the Township Committee are starting to think the money is too much for just those tasks.
After discussing the matter, the subcommittee and committee decided to use any extra money for tree maintenance since the agreement with the state only covers tree maintenance for two years. If the trees die after two years, it wouldn’t be the state’s responsibility.
Thus, the more trees the township buys, the more they may have to pay to maintain after two years.
”It’s a trust fund. The money can’t be used for anything else,” said Denise Marabello, township administrator and chief finance officer.
Dietrich Wahlers, chairman of the subcommittee and a member of the township Planning Board, told the Township Committee at its meeting Monday that the subcommittee planned to plant 204 trees per acre on the Hagerty property, but now the subcommittee has reduced that number to 183 per acre.
The extra money that would have been spent on the extra 21 trees per acre will be used for maintenance.
The Township Committee approved planting 183 trees per acre on the Hagerty property, 4-0 with one abstention. Councilman Dan Mulligan abstained from the vote since he lives adjacent to the Hagerty property.
Mayor Winthrop Cody suggested two-thirds of the trust fund be used for purchasing and planting the trees and the other third for tree maintenance.
He also suggested the town require whatever tree company it hires to help with the maintenance of the trees.
So the money granted by the state will be used to plant, purchase and maintain 2,556 trees. The NJ Turnpike Tree Subcommittee has to deliver its report to the state by tomorrow, Jan. 15.

