Dublin homeowners associations struggling with dead trees and overgrown woodlots could soon get city help paying for the work.
The Public Services Committee meets Aug. 12, at 5 p.m. to take up a proposed grant program that would offer HOAs between $2,000 and $15,000 for woodlot maintenance, with a required dollar-for-dollar match from applicants. The committee will also hear an update on the Greenway Corridor Screening Program, which replaces aging and dead trees along major road corridors at city expense, according to the committee agenda.
Both items were referred to the committee at the Jan. 20 City Council meeting and first discussed at a Feb. 11 committee session. Wednesday's meeting marks the first public action on either topic since at least April.
What the woodlot grant would do
The program would give HOAs or civic associations one grant per year, scored on a 30-point system that prioritizes hazard reduction and ecological benefit. The idea grew out of the city's 2025 goal-setting retreat, where neighborhoods including Wyandotte Woods asked for help managing reserve-area woodlots choked by invasive species and aging trees.
The $15,000 cap reflects real-world costs: roughly $5,000 to remove a full-grown tree and $160 for a replacement, according to staff estimates presented in February.
Committee Chair Amy Kramb flagged practical barriers at the Feb. 11 meeting. "I've witnessed groups abandoning projects due to complexity," Kramb said, noting that HOAs often lack the expertise to identify dead trees or invasive species without hiring arborists.
City forester Jeff Myers told the committee in February he would visit sites and identify high-risk areas as part of the program's technical assistance.
Vice Mayor Cathy De Rosa raised concerns that requiring money upfront could shut out smaller associations with modest monthly dues and limited cash reserves.
Greenway Corridor update
The Greenway Corridor Screening Program tackles screening requirements dating to 1978 that have proven difficult to enforce. A pilot along the Avery-Muirfield corridor in Indian Run Meadows removed 84 dead trees and planted 124 new trees and shrubs at a cost of about $92,000. Of 31 eligible properties, 25 participated voluntarily.
Under the program, the city acquires easements and takes responsibility for maintaining and replacing plantings. Property owners handle lawn care.
Staff identified four corridors for potential expansion: Emerald Parkway (estimated $24,000), Frantz Road ($51,000), Coffman Road ($14,250) and Dublin Road. The three costed corridors total roughly $89,250 for initial planting.
Both programs would draw from the city's tree preservation fund, which held about $400,000 as of February. That fund is fed by developer fees paid in lieu of on-site tree replacement.
What's next
The three-member committee includes Kramb, De Rosa and Dr. Greg Lam. The meeting is open to the public at 5555 Perimeter Drive. Residents can contact Dublin Legislative Services at 614-410-4442. No vote date before full Council has been set.
