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Trees help screen train tracks

Trees help screen train tracks
By Nancy White
GateHouse News Service
Thu Jul 26, 2007, 01:06 PM EDT

After Photos (courtesy of Chris Shores) A recently planted line of Northern Green arborvitae has created a screening effect for Nick and Debbie Pitaro who didn’t use their back deck for almost two summers because neither of them could stand looking out at the new view of the tracks. Before Photos Trees Now (courtesy of Chris Shores) Jerry Ouellette, right, shown here with Nick Destito, left, both of Trees Now, used a computer program to generate a digital depiction of the Pitaros' North Main Street backyard with different tree options. "The main goal was to crate a noise mitigation and screening effect so [the Pitaros] didn't have to look at the berm eyesore," says Oullette

Cohasset -
For the Pitaros their backyard had always been a sanctuary. A place where Nick Pitaro could tend to his garden or enjoy a summer dinner with his wife, Debbie, on the back deck. It was a quiet backyard abutting a forest full of wildlife.

“We used to have deer. Wild turkeys would come right up to the window and beautiful birds,” says Debbie Pitaro. But when the MBTA began restoring the Greenbush tracks directly behind their North Main Street home the wild animals began disappearing. In its place were noise, litter and an “eyesore” of a view, she says. They didn’t use their back deck for almost two summers because neither of them could stand looking out at the new view.

It became abundantly clear the train was coming despite assurances from a real estate agent 10 years ago that the South Shore commuter rail branch “would never happen,” Debbie Pitaro says.

But, even more than the view, Debbie Pitaro says her husband had a health scare last year and she believes it was partly due to the MBTA’s construction. She felt they needed to do something to protect their house from the noise, view and pollution generated from the train. The solution revealed itself when Debbie Pitaro saw a television advertisement for Trees Now, a Plainville-based company specializes in planting and transplanting large, mature trees.

Last week the Pitaros had Trees Now remove their old dying trees and install 31 new trees to create a 12-foot screen along the MBTA-installed chain link fence. In a matter of just one week, the Pitaros had a green screen to mitigate rail noise and block the view of the tracks.

“I didn’t really know how much it bothered us, even coming down the driveway would get me upset — it was really offensive,” says Debbie Pitaro. The property is mere feet away from the warning signal pole, which will have red flashing lights once the train is fully operational.

For weeks the Pitaros worked with the Jerry Ouellette, manager at Trees Now, to determine the best combination of trees to suit their needs.

“We want to understand what our customers would like to do and what they need to do,” says Ouellette. Ouellette listened the Pitaros’ concerns and desires to come up with the best solution. He shared his knowledge of trees and plantings, showed them other similar type screenings the company had done.

“Homeowners typically have a myopic understanding of trees,” says Ouellette. Trees Now can guide them through the endless forest of options, “trees can really change the character of a home.”

Trees Now used a computer program to generate a digital depiction of the site with different tree options. Together, the Pitaros and Ouellette determined the Northern Green arborvitae would work best for their situation, 27 were planted along the property edge.

“The main goal was to create a noise mitigation and screening effect so [the Pitaros] didn’t have to look at the berm eyesore,” says Ouellette, “the arborvitae has thick branches that overlap to provide a strong matting.”

The arborvitae is compact too, so the trees could be planted almost directly next to the fencing. Right now, they stand about 12 feet but will grown almost double in size to about 20 to 25 feet in height.

“You won’t even be able to see the double decker train when that starts going through,” says Nick Destito, owner of Trees Now. A Colorado blue spruce and a white pine were planted to add to the texture of the screen. Several plants and trees were moved from other parts of the yard and re-planted.

“If you add trees to your home, you add value to your home forever,” says Ouellette.

Trees Now has been in business for more than 20 years. Originally, Destito ran a complete tree service business, where his company (Destito Trees) would remove, install, and transplant trees. But when the equipment and insurance became too much, he decided to branch off and establish a niche company after 10 years in complete tree service. Trees Now has sub-contractors to remove the trees and focuses on design, installation and transplant of mature trees. They buy and sell trees and have several of their own tree farms where they can pick and choose specimen trees for their clients.

Destito and Ouellette have already received several calls from other train abutters interested in doing similar projects in their backyards bordering the train tracks.

“The best thing is coming in the driveway and not seeing that horror show,” says Debbie Pitaro, who calls herself a happy customer, “it really makes a difference, even if you have to get a second mortgage, it’s worth it.”

“It’s so nice to be seeing green instead of track,” seconds Nick Pitaro.