York to Remove Historic Tree for Road Project

Officials plan to remove a 70-year-old honey locust tree this November to accommodate a village intersection redesign.

Updated on Oct. 16, 2026 in City Hall

Isometric editorial illustration of a large honey locust tree standing in the center of a quiet village intersection, representing local infrastructure planning. — York village officials scheduled the removal of a 70-year-old honey locust tree for November 2 to accommodate a planned intersection safety redesign. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should your local government prioritize preserving historic community landmarks over infrastructure improvement projects?

York officials have scheduled the removal of a 60 to 70-year-old honey locust tree for November 2, 2026, as part of a state-led intersection project. The tree sits in the center of York Village, where the redesign aims to improve safety for local drivers and pedestrians.

Why it matters

The removal is a required component of the York Village Revitalization project, an effort designed to enhance safety at the intersection of York Street and Long Sands Road. Because the plan is state-administered, altering the project would require a return to the design phase and the renegotiation of state contracts.

The revitalization project is backed by $4.1 million in total funding, with the town contributing $400,000. Officials stated that removal cannot proceed before November 1 due to federal protections for a bat species.

The players

York Selectboard

This is the primary governing body for the town of York and handles local legislative and administrative affairs.

The details

The tree is a fixture of York Village, and residents have voiced opposition to its removal at recent Selectboard meetings. The project follows a master plan originally approved by voters in 2015, which necessitates changes to the local intersection layout.

Voters approved the master plan for the project in 2015.
Residents spoke about the tree at a Selectboard meeting on September 28, 2026.
A letter urging a project pause was read at a Selectboard meeting on October 5, 2026.
November 1, 2026, is the earliest date the tree removal can legally occur due to bat protections.
The potential earliest date for the tree removal is November 2, 2026.

Political Context

Opposition groups argue for preserving local landmarks despite the safety objectives of the state-led project. Critics of the plan emphasize that the tree is a long-standing fixture of the village that should be excluded from the redesign.

Residents should expect potential construction delays and traffic pattern shifts at the intersection of York Street and Long Sands Road during the project. The removal of the tree marks a significant change to the visual landscape of York Village.

The takeaway

Large-scale infrastructure projects often involve difficult trade-offs between modern safety requirements and the preservation of historic community features. Residents hoping to influence municipal decisions should engage with the planning process early, as established state contracts are difficult to modify once finalized.