Moorestown warehouse plan requires clearing most of the 236 trees on nearly five acres on North Lenola Road.

A developer proposes to clear-cut 227 of the 236 trees on a heavily wooded lot to build two warehouses in the mostly industrial area on North Lenola Road in Moorestown.

The owner and developer, 900 Lenola Road LLC of Marlton, is scheduled to go before the Township Planning Board on December 5 for preliminary and final site plan approvals and a design exception/waiver of the town ordinance prohibiting the removal of more than 60% of the tree canopy.

A tree inventory of the 4.83-acre lot included with the proposed plans shows mostly oak, maple and sweet gum trees. Nine trees would be saved.

Out of 236 trees, 44 are two feet or more in diameter, according to the developer's count. Three oaks are 40 inches in diameter, and not rated as in decline, dead or deceased, according to the inventory.

Many municipalities across New Jersey have begun to crack down on tree removal and have either adopted a model New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection tree removal ordinance or have written their own. The DEP's goal is to improve storm water management.

Trees will be planted, but not enough to satisfy the 208 replacement trees required under the Moorestown ordinance, according to the developer's application. Under the ordinance, the developer would make a payment-in-lieu to the Township rather than replace all the trees.

Aerial photographs of the area around the lot at 880 North Lenola Road area included in the application package show mostly farms and open land more than 50 years ago. Warehouses and other industrial properties have since been developed.

If approved, two warehouses would be built on the land: one 37,500 square feet in size and the other 10,000 square feet.

The Planning Board meeting is scheduled at 7 p.m. on December 5 at Town Hall Council Chambers, 111 West Second Street.