BY JOHN A. DARNELL JR.
      associate editor
      The owner of an 8.7-acre parcel of land on Berklee Ave. will provide mitigation that exceeds requirements after trees, some of which were in a riparian area, were cut down in January, Boardman Township Director of Planning/Zoning T.J. Keiran said this week.
      The planning/zoning office issued a stop work order on Feb. 10 to John J. Angelilli, of Bristol Park Land Development LLC, citing a violation of the Boardman Township Zoning Resolution when trees were cleared within 100 feet of a riparian corridor.
      The zoning resolution says “There shall be no disturbance of natural vegetation within riparian setbacks.”
      Keiran said that five of the 13 trees that were removed from the property “were in the riparian setback, a protected area adjacent to the waterway on the property.”
      According to Keiran, Angelilli and Bristol Park have agreed to replant the area that was disturbed at standards that will exceed replacing them at a mandated 4-1 ratio.
      “Trees planted for mitigation must be species native to northeast Ohio and be able to thrive in riparian corridors.” Keiran said those trees include Pine, Oak, American Elm and American Sycamore and must be planted within the riparian corridor.”
      A riparian zone or riparian area is the interface between land and a river or stream.
      More than a month after the trees were cut down, Sharlynn Fabilli, identified as a spokesperson for Bristol Park Land Development LLC, went to the Boardman Police Department and told Ptl. Matt Sell that Bristol Park was in talks to sell the 8.7-acre parcel of land to Jason A. Sullivan, of Regalia Venture Partners LLC.
      “Fabilli went on to say that Sullivan contacted Monroe Excavating to go on the land...and clear it of trees,” Officer Sell said, noting that the owner of the land (whom was identified by Fabilli to police as Brian Angelilli) stated he spoke with Monroe on the day the trees were cut down and was told by Monroe “we jumped the gun,” referencing taking the trees down on the property.
      As Officer Sell noted “due to the removal of the trees” they must be replaced with native trees” and the owner of the property is responsible for the survival of the newly-planted trees.
      Fabilli told Officer Sell replanting costs could be estimated “to be near $20,000.”
      The property on Berklee Lane is located off Western Reserve Rd. off Hitchcock Rd. where a newly constructed, 2,400 sq.-ft. home on nearly a half-acre of land is valued at some $430,000.