The developers of the approved Cottage Brook subdivision, formerly known as Spurwink Woods, have been granted permission to remove fallen trees on the property.

Town Manager Michael McGovern OK'd the cleanup after viewing the property with Spurwink Woods LLC partner Skip Murray and Fire Chief Peter Gleeson.

The parcel, particularly near the residential areas of Killdeer and Thrasher roads, was hit hard by the wind and rain storm of Feb. 25 and 26. McGovern, in an e-mail response to Murray's request to clean up, said he was "astounded by the damage created by a cascading collapse of countless fir trees."

"In instances when a subdivision approval has occurred and bonds have not yet been posted, we always need to be watchful of any activities on a property," McGovern said in the e-mail dated March 7, 2010. "In this instance, it is necessary in order to protect the health and safety of all, that I grant immediate permission to you to remove the present hazard without concurrently invoking a requirement to post performance guarantees for the subdivision itself," he said.

The subdivision was approved for 23 single-family homes and 19 condomuniums by the Planning Board in June 2006.

In his e-mail, McGovern commended Murray for alerting the fire chief to the fire and safety hazards on the property.