Public outcry against a plan to cut down nearly 30 trees along Water Street continues, as Warren prepares to hold a public hearing on the matter this coming Tuesday, Nov. 15.

Earlier this month, DPW workers marked 41 trees on northern Water Street for removal, as the town begins its long-planned “North Water Street Streetscape” program. Officials have since reduced the number of marked trees to 27, but residents say that despite the reduction, the elimination of trees along Water Street will have a huge negative impact on the neighborhood.

“It will look horrible without trees!” Linda S. Kuehl wrote on a Facebook post on the removal.

“It’s a bad move,” added Roberta Sousa, who lives around the corner from Water Street on Union Street.

Town officials have been planning to remove the trees for more than two years, but say they will re-plant with new trees once the work is done. The program involves running new gas, water and sewer lines down northern Water Street and installing new pavement, sidewalks and curbs. The plan was first discussed six years ago and received town approval, with two public hearings held, in 2014. Officials said the marked trees have to go because they’re either buckling sidewalks, interfering with utility lines or are old, diseased or otherwise compromised.

Still, residents who were unaware of the 2014 hearings say they will attend Tuesday’s next hearing. They say they are upset not just about the long term aesthetic of Water Street, but the fact that the trees are scheduled to come down prior to the holiday festival.

“Why do they have to do it before Christmas?” asked Water Street resident Jen Dutras Thursday. “Assuming they need to be removed why don’t they just wait?”

Warren Town Manager Jan Reitsma said the trees need to come down sooner rather than later to keep with National Grid’s schedule, and the overall project timeline. The plan is for National Grid to come in late next week and begin removing trees’ canopies; from there, DPW workers will follow and remove the rest of the trees.

Mr. Reitsma knew of the trees’ planned destruction prior to last week, when large orange X’s were first painted on marked trees. Still, he said the public should have been told of the plan prior to the marks going up. On Wednesday, he and DPW Director John Massed walked Water Street and found 14 trees that should be able to be saved, he said.

As for the overall project, he wrote on the town’s website:

“The trees have now been marked, unfortunately without a prior public announcement. This has, understandably, upset people, in particular those not yet familiar with the plan or with the public process that was followed a few years ago (which also included review by the Tree Commission).”

“It is important to know that the Town does not want to end up with a barren, tree-less streetscape.  Before marking the trees, we evaluated again to what extent additional trees can be saved. Also, part of the plan is to replace trees with varieties and in a manner that will not cause the problems with utility lines and buckling sidewalks that we now have. There will also be flexibility to install planters, in consultation with interested businesses and residents, which will add additional greening but also help with stormwater management. The goal of the project is to create an attractive, safe and green streetscape.”

Mr. Massed said the town will hang Christmas lights at the park adjacent to the Wharf Tavern, and will also run them up Broad Street. In addition, holiday festival organizer Marilyn Mathison said she will purchase lights of her own and have them strung on utility poles up and down Water Street.

Next week’s public hearing is set for Tuesday, Nov. 15, at 7 p.m. in Warren Town Hall.