Fairhope, Alabama
TREE COMMITTEE MEETS
John Parker, of the Corridor 98 non-profit organization responsible for raising money for planting over 1,950 oak trees along Hwy 98 through Daphne and Fairhope, expressed his anger about the 8 live oak trees that were recently removed south of South Dr. to make way for a right turn lane (click and again on next page).
Pines, magnolias and other species were removed as well (66 in all).
Parker: "I'm here to tell you ... its an eternal battle ... against excuses ... why they need to be cut."
Parker said his investigation revealed that a so-far unidentified individual from the Bayshore Christain School initiated the request for the turn lane -- and District 3 County Commissioner Tucker Dorsey helped convince the highway department to take on the project.
(Dorsey is not the Commissioner for the Eastern Shore area, Bob James is.)
Contrary to prior agreements, the city was not consulted at all, according to Parker.
Parker: "Unfortunately, recently we lost 8 live oaks ... on N. US 98 ... somebody from the Christain School put in a plea to a county commissioner (Dorsey) for a stacking lane to be built ... he put the torque to the state highway department ... before you know it ... we observed the trees cut down ... now we've got a big gap in our planting ... ."
(According to City Horticulturist Fidler, the state is claiming it forgot to check off the box in the paperwork requiring prior consultation with the city.)
CITY MAINTAINED/STATE OWNED
Parker said he, Mayor Kant, and Fidler had met recently at the site with the highway department's chief district engineer Vince Calametti -- and asked again that the city always be consulted beforehand in such cases.
Parker: "We convinced Mr. Calametti that if we all put our heads together (in the future) ... we could come up with a better answer ... ."
SOME TREES TO BE REPLANTED
Parker said the state has committed to providing ten 25 gallon live oaks for replanting on the slope behind the new drainage ditch -- and the grass would be allowed to grow naturally where the slope is too steep to mow (the city does the mowing/tree maintenance along north Hwy 98, per written cooperative maintenance agreements).
No penalties will be assessed, since city tree protection laws do not apply within state road right of ways. Replacing them, usually with much smaller ones, is the only option.
(A similar situation occurred near the Ruby Tuesday Restaurant on Greeno Rd. 3 miles south two years ago -- click)
BETTER VIGILANCE NEEDED
Parker concluded by saying he thought better scrutiny is necessary from city governments (Daphne, Fairhope) -- and from the general public, to put pressure on the state DOT to make preserving the Corridor 98 trees a higher priority.
Parker: "We can't have just one citizen jerking the municipality around in that manner."
He said a new generation of "campaigners" is needed, in and out of government, to protect a "public trust" of 12 miles of trees along 98 planted using citizens' $228,000 in donations.
Parker: " ... (We) have to invest time to accomplish it."
TREE COMMITTEE MEETS
John Parker, of the Corridor 98 non-profit organization responsible for raising money for planting over 1,950 oak trees along Hwy 98 through Daphne and Fairhope, expressed his anger about the 8 live oak trees that were recently removed south of South Dr. to make way for a right turn lane (click and again on next page).
Pines, magnolias and other species were removed as well (66 in all).
Parker: "I'm here to tell you ... its an eternal battle ... against excuses ... why they need to be cut."
Parker said his investigation revealed that a so-far unidentified individual from the Bayshore Christain School initiated the request for the turn lane -- and District 3 County Commissioner Tucker Dorsey helped convince the highway department to take on the project.(Dorsey is not the Commissioner for the Eastern Shore area, Bob James is.)
Contrary to prior agreements, the city was not consulted at all, according to Parker.
Parker: "Unfortunately, recently we lost 8 live oaks ... on N. US 98 ... somebody from the Christain School put in a plea to a county commissioner (Dorsey) for a stacking lane to be built ... he put the torque to the state highway department ... before you know it ... we observed the trees cut down ... now we've got a big gap in our planting ... ."
(According to City Horticulturist Fidler, the state is claiming it forgot to check off the box in the paperwork requiring prior consultation with the city.)
CITY MAINTAINED/STATE OWNED
Parker said he, Mayor Kant, and Fidler had met recently at the site with the highway department's chief district engineer Vince Calametti -- and asked again that the city always be consulted beforehand in such cases.
Parker: "We convinced Mr. Calametti that if we all put our heads together (in the future) ... we could come up with a better answer ... ."
SOME TREES TO BE REPLANTED
Parker said the state has committed to providing ten 25 gallon live oaks for replanting on the slope behind the new drainage ditch -- and the grass would be allowed to grow naturally where the slope is too steep to mow (the city does the mowing/tree maintenance along north Hwy 98, per written cooperative maintenance agreements).
No penalties will be assessed, since city tree protection laws do not apply within state road right of ways. Replacing them, usually with much smaller ones, is the only option.
(A similar situation occurred near the Ruby Tuesday Restaurant on Greeno Rd. 3 miles south two years ago -- click)
BETTER VIGILANCE NEEDED
Parker concluded by saying he thought better scrutiny is necessary from city governments (Daphne, Fairhope) -- and from the general public, to put pressure on the state DOT to make preserving the Corridor 98 trees a higher priority.
Parker: "We can't have just one citizen jerking the municipality around in that manner."
He said a new generation of "campaigners" is needed, in and out of government, to protect a "public trust" of 12 miles of trees along 98 planted using citizens' $228,000 in donations.
Parker: " ... (We) have to invest time to accomplish it."
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