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Stockton suspends removal of more than 400 trees following community complaints

"The project has been paused temporarily and staff has consulted with an arborist for a secondary opinion." Stockton, California, has suspended the removal of more than 400 trees due to community complaints. The trees are being marked with a triangle and circle, along with a number spray painted on them, to make room for sidewalk repairs. The city is trying to preserve live trees wherever possible, and each tree is evaluated on a case-by-case basis considering its health, ability for it to be trimmed without damage and whether a sidewalk can be repaired without having to remove the tree. The project is currently 32% complete, according to the city, and residents have gathered over 1,700 signatures from residents calling for the city to halt its efforts. The next city council meeting will be on Tuesday.

Stockton suspends removal of more than 400 trees following community complaints

Published : 10 months ago by Josie Heart, https://www.facebook.com/Josie-Heart-KCRA in

Stockton residents may be finding a triangle and circle along with a number spray painted on several trees outside of their homes. It’s not graffiti, but a mark to show that those trees are set to be cut down by the city to make room for sidewalk repairs. The plan was approved by city officials in March, but it’s not sitting well with some residents. Julie Dunning is a Stockton resident and member of Tree Stockton, an organization of residents that advocates for the protection of trees and the surrounding environment. Dunning expresses concern over the potential environmental impacts of removing the trees.“They provide a number of benefits. Not only shade in the summer, they are a rain shelter in the winter to help with flooding, they help control the air pollution,” Dunning said. “Beyond that, it’s a property right. We’re entitled to the enjoyment of these trees.”Most trees marked for removal are in the midtown area, while some are in residential neighborhoods. The city says they are trying to preserve live trees wherever possible, and that each tree is evaluated for removal on a case-by-case basis considering the tree’s health, the ability for it to be trimmed without damage and whether a sidewalk can be repaired without having to remove the tree. “In my assessment, looking around, driving in the neighborhoods and looking at the list, I’m not seeing anything where they apply those criteria and successfully saved a tree,” Dunning said. Residents like Dan Richardson say they feel they were not included in the city’s plan.According to the city, postcards were mailed, and doorknob flyers were distributed to residents. But Richardson said he believes there should have been more notice given. “I think there should’ve been a broader public notice,” Richardson said. “They said they sent out postcards. However, the only people I know received postcards were people who were in imminent danger of losing their trees in their front yards and had trees tagged.”The project is currently 32% complete, according to the city, but now plans to remove the trees are on hold. “The city has received community feedback asking for work to be suspended and for a re-evaluation of mitigation efforts to preserve the trees in mid-Stockton. The project has been paused temporarily and staff has consulted with an arborist for a secondary opinion,” said city spokesperson Connie Cochran in a statement to KCRA 3. Residents say they hope the city will take a different approach when selecting which trees to remove. “They’re not in imminent danger of falling down, they’re healthy,” Richardson said. “But they really need to focus more on the trees that are truly dead, dying or diseased.”Tree Stockton has gathered over 1,700 signatures from residents calling for the city to halt its efforts. Residents say they will be expressing their concerns at the next city council meeting on Tuesday.


Topics: California, Stockton

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