Poor Planning

[RGus]

I saw this on the news this evening.

Tree Removals

Its sad to hear that all street trees in the downtown area, I think it was 12 blocks, has to be removed. I understand having to fix planning problems from the past, but to plant trees in the same areas creating the same problem the next time utilities need to be replaced just seems stupid. You think they could come up with a better plan than this. Is this common practice for most communities?

 

[TreeCo]

What is great about trees is that they are a renewable resource.

Ya gotta flush!

Replanting is the thing to do.

 

[guymayor]

renewable, for our grandkids

there was no other way? sounds like a shortcut.

72 blocks clearcut? that town needs a tree appraiser to ride in on a gold horse.
property values will go down, so taxes should too?

 

[Tom Dunlap]

I'm as much a Treehugger as anyone here. At the same time...what other solution could be suggested?

Boring the utility lines? If anyone has ever priced this out they know the costs. Just look at the costs...much cheaper to whack the trees. But...that doesn't account for the value of the trees I know. Where would the added costs go? Property taxes. The residents deserved to understand an explanation of the options...months ago...and a bond issue proposed to cover those costs. That way they would have input. Now, the Lord of the Manor...Chaska...is doing as they please and they'll get their way.

In some of the pics it looked like boulevards lined with 70-100 year old silver maples. I know Chaska and the Twin Cities. If Guy's appraiser on the gold horse rode in they'd find quite a number of them with a high enough hazard rating to expect they would be removed as a matter of course. Then...look at the remaining trees and develop a plan. In some situations we all know its a better use of money to remove and replant. They're at about the end of their urban life span...not all, but many I'm sure.

Any good solution suggestions?

 

[mrtree]

I wonder how the tree appraiser on a golden horse is going to find a positive value to these trees. Tree value has to be based on creating a value for somebody, under the circumstances present. IF the municipality has deemed that utilities must be replaced (in fact there may be legislation requiring them to maintain water and sewer to a high level) than the tree value is certainly greatly reduced becasue under the trunk formula placement etc. becomes 0. IN fact the trees may show as a liability.

Can a home owner claim value to something they don't own or have a right to? This case shows that people often stake claim and assess value on things that are not theirs and transient at best.

As for decreased property values if taxes are based upon a set percentage of the assessed property value I wonder if taxs will decline. THis would be a true indication of the value of the trees.

As for solutions,no solution but homeowners can certainly plant trees on their properties.

 

[Adkpk]

The problem with these situations is they hardly ever plant the native trees back. Too many times towns get together and come with "smart trees" as I will call them like which grow fast and don't get as big but will never take the place of oaks, ashes, maples sycamores or elms ect...

There should be a federal law to make towns budget for canopy cover and each town should furnish tree museums for people to see different periods of the towns tree development. It's the only way to keep the temperatures down and spirits high.

 

[treehumper]

the homeowner isn't claiming value the market is. This isn't news that a street lined with mature trees is seen as more valuable than one that is not. Especially in an urban neighbourhood. The town was laid out in a gird pattern therefore the trees had to come down?!?!? Um, there are tons of cities laid out in the same fashion with mature trees in limited spaces with old infrastructure (older than Chaska's) that have solved the problem. The town is short sighted and hasn't taken into account the full cost of the removal. They need only look online to find the numerous studies that show just how much money these trees save the town and what unforeseen expenses they will experience.

This is the same mentality that leads to urban decay while suburbs are then expanded at a huge cost to the community. And all the development taxes do not cover the expenses to a city or town.