TreeWatch set out yesterday to appeal the removal of five more trees as part of the Grove's street renovation project. With petition in hand and hopeful feelings, Liliana Dones headed into the meeting before the Historical Preservation Board (HEP). TreeWatch has been appealing the planned removal of many trees in Center Grove as part of the streetscape renovation project.
In Liliana's words:
I am sorry to report that TreeWatch lost the appeal on behalf of five more trees in Coconut Grove now slated for removal at the hands of the BID's sidewalk improvement project. For a while it was hopeful as Preservation Officer Adams had recommended that at least three of the trees be saved (two large mahoganies on Mary and one on Virginia) as they were listed in the BID's Arborist report to be in good-to-fair condition and the chief reason for their requested removal was because their roots had lifted the sidewalks near them, the argument being logical, as it was pointed out that cutting the trees down for this reason would be grounds for cutting a large number of trees in Miami.
The City Capital Improvements swiftly quashed the hope for these trees, however, when they took the now proven-to-work stance of bringing their consulting arborist, Lisa Hammer, out to report that these trees are in ill health and/or have structural defects, which could (the operative word here being "could") make them be a hazard, because something "could" happen to the tree, say a branch could break off, or whatever, that "could" result in someone possibly getting hurt.
TreeWatch reminded the HEP Board that in continuing to allow this "ill health" prognosis (as they did with 11 trees on Florida Avenue) as a guideline for removing the trees, we stand to lose many many trees as the sidewalk project morphs. We also reminded them that the posted signs n the trees carried the vague reason of "health" and/or design conflict.
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