By JULIE CUNNINGHAM
(Greenfield, MA) Mayor Roxann Wedegartner has denied Isaac Mass, owner of the Garden Theater in Greenfield, his petition to cut down five trees in front of his marquee. The reason for the request was a potential upgrade to the marquee, and Mass felt the trees would block the view of the upgrade. Wedegartner denied the petition, offering instead to allow for a shorter tree to be planted in the place of the tree east of the marquee. Mass has since withdrawn his petition and Wedegartner has come out to say she never intended to allow Mass to cut down all five trees, but does thank him for his support of downtown Greenfield.
“I’m glad the resolution to this issue is in concert with the outpouring of support that my office received for keeping these trees on Main Street. I think Isaac and Angela DeSanty-Mass for their continued dedication to supporting Main Street and downtown Greenfield,” said Wedegartner in a statement.
Wedegartner did consult with tree warden Paul Newell in making her decision. A public hearing was also held on August 6 regarding proposed tree removal on Main Street as well as other locations around the city.