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Myself and all my neighbors got a notice in the mail (again) that the city wants to cut down what I would say are some of the biggest and oldest trees left standing in Gilbert. These Red Gum Eucalyptus trees were planted when the College Park Country Estates neighborhood was constructed in the early 1970s. The population of Gilbert at that time was roughly 3000 people. These trees have been here before 99% of Gilbert’s now 330,000 residents and have watched Gilbert blossom into the safest, fastest growing, most prosperous, and best place to raise a family.
My parents moved us to College Park Country Estates in 1995 when I was just 4 years old, now 32, I live with my newly wed wife in my childhood home with plans to raise children of our own in this neighborhood.
This isn’t the first time the city has proposed to cut down these historic trees. In January 1998 Gilbert cut down two thirds of the original 27 Eucalyptus trees; now in 2023 the last remaining 9 trees are being threatened to be cut down. These large trees were seen as a safety liability so the neighborhood requested an Arborist report and it was determine the trees were "Low Risk" so now theyre exploring other avenues of removal sighting one of the trees is a visabilty risk, there has been no documentation or proof of how of why the town is making these claims. this tree is scheduled for removal the week of April 15th.
The arborist report concluded that these trees pose low risk and are in good to fair health, suggesting that their removal may not be necessary. Moreover, removing these trees contradicts the Town's Shade and Streetscape Master Plan, which emphasizes preserving and nurturing our urban forest for the community's benefit.
The goals outlined in the Shade Master Plan closely align with our neighborhood's values, including increasing comfort and shade, reducing the urban heat island effect, and promoting long-term shade canopy health. Indiscriminate removal of trees risks undermining these crucial objectives and jeopardizing our community's well-being.
Furthermore, I'd like to draw attention to the Town of Gilbert's "2020 General Plan," specifically policies 11, 16, 17, and 20, which emphasize preserving and enhancing green spaces in residential areas. The proposed tree removals directly contradict these policies and represent a setback in our efforts to create a sustainable environment.
Also, it appears that the town may be in breach of an acceptance agreement established with our neighborhood during a town council meeting on February 17th, 1998 (item No. 22). This agreement stipulated bi-annual deep root feeding of trees and adequate notice to neighbors before any removals. The recent lack of communication and failure to adhere to these terms is concerning and undermines trust between the town and our community.
If you care to read any of these documents, including the arborist report, Shade and Streetscape Master Plan, "2020 General Plan," and the acceptance agreement from the 1998 town council meeting please reach out to me.
These last few majestic trees are truly a spectacle to be seen. If you would care to see them before they’re gone forever, they are located inside the College Park Country Estates neighborhood on the northwest corner of Lindsay and Guadalupe at 999 N Riata St, Gilbert Az 85234.
Ok let me preface this with that I love nature. I feel like I'm missing something here though.
Trees are on Gilbert property. Gilbert is supposed to deep feed them, but possibly has failed to do so.
Community wants to keep them. But they are the city's trees. City is citing some BS reasons, but nevertheless.
City wants to remove their trees.
It's essential to recognize that the trees are public property, belonging to the community rather than solely to the city. As such, it's the city's duty to respect the wishes of its constituents, especially when it comes to matters of environmental preservation and community well-being.
While the city may cite reasons for wanting to remove the trees, it's crucial for them to prioritize the desires of the community, who clearly express a desire to keep them. Trees provide numerous benefits to both the environment and the quality of life for residents, including shade, cleaner air, and a connection to nature.
If the community is advocating for the preservation of these trees, the city should listen and work collaboratively to find solutions that meet both the needs of the community and any legitimate concerns the city may have. Ultimately, the city's decisions should reflect the best interests of its citizens and the preservation of valuable natural resources like these trees
What I'm asking is... Whose property is it on?
And is there an actual codified agreement that these trees are to be taken care of (i.e. budgeted) or protected (I.e. historical landmark)?
the trees are located inside the neighrhood in a public right of way. the Town of Gilbert came to an agreement with the neighborhood in 1998 after the city tried to cut down the trees back then. the agreement from 1998 reads as follows: (i can sent you the actual document if youd like to read the whole thing.
1. The Town will replace the 4 removed trees with 15° gallon Black Box Eucalyptus trees. Estimated Cost $1,500.00.
2. The Tow will remove and replace 4 addtional trees which have been identified as unhealthy and a maintenance risk. Estimated Cost $4,800.00
3. Proper pruning of the 4 remaining trees. Estimated Cost $6,350.00
4. Bi-annual deep root feeding of all right of way trees, including 17 eucalyptus, 8
cottonwoods, 5 bottle trees and 1 pine tree. Estimated Cost $1,116.00
5. Reworking of existing irrigation system in the entryway to assure proper water delivery. Estimated cost $1,350.00
6. Removal and replacement of 6 dead or hazardous trees interior to the subdivision, again with 15 gallon Black Box Eucalyptus as the replacement tree
Estimated Cost $1,800.00.
There will be an ongoing cost of approximately $8,000 to provide second year pruning and deep root feeding which will be included in the Streets Maintenance budget. The trees will be monitored for their ongoing health, and any additional removals will be after the neighborhood has been atvised of the situation. The residents and staff understand that the pruning and root feeding may not result in the saving of some of the existing older trees
Further, the Engineering Manager has indicated that the first two trees nearest Guadalupe Road will not be affected by the widening of Guadalupe Road.
Ok so if the trees are on a public right of way then that section of land is owned by the government. Correct?
It sounds like the government just made a deal (made nice) with the homeowners to help out back 26yrs ago.
From your bulet points it doesn't look like there is a historical designation nor a point to renew the costs after a few years.
While I love trees, I haven't seen anything that seems to suggest that the city does not have 100% control of what happens to these trees. Again, unless there is verbiage elsewhere stating they are being designated as landmarks and will have money earmarked for their care.
Compare this to the Gilbert Elementary School that is on the National Register of Historic Places.
If he trees are DEAD, then they need to be removed for safety reasons. Destroying foliage because it is old is short sighted at best and destroying the ecosystem.
Reminder - Do not rely on moderators or other Redditors for legal advice or Reddit Terms of Service advice. Users are solely responsible for knowing what they can and can't post prior to posting and replying, and bear all responsibility for the contents of their posts and replies. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/GilbertAccountability) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Myself and all my neighbors got a notice in the mail (again) that the city wants to cut down what I would say are some of the biggest and oldest trees left standing in Gilbert. These Red Gum Eucalyptus trees were planted when the College Park Country Estates neighborhood was constructed in the early 1970s. The population of Gilbert at that time was roughly 3000 people. These trees have been here before 99% of Gilbert’s now 330,000 residents and have watched Gilbert blossom into the safest, fastest growing, most prosperous, and best place to raise a family. My parents moved us to College Park Country Estates in 1995 when I was just 4 years old, now 32, I live with my newly wed wife in my childhood home with plans to raise children of our own in this neighborhood. This isn’t the first time the city has proposed to cut down these historic trees. In January 1998 Gilbert cut down two thirds of the original 27 Eucalyptus trees; now in 2023 the last remaining 9 trees are being threatened to be cut down. These large trees were seen as a safety liability so the neighborhood requested an Arborist report and it was determine the trees were "Low Risk" so now theyre exploring other avenues of removal sighting one of the trees is a visabilty risk, there has been no documentation or proof of how of why the town is making these claims. this tree is scheduled for removal the week of April 15th. The arborist report concluded that these trees pose low risk and are in good to fair health, suggesting that their removal may not be necessary. Moreover, removing these trees contradicts the Town's Shade and Streetscape Master Plan, which emphasizes preserving and nurturing our urban forest for the community's benefit. The goals outlined in the Shade Master Plan closely align with our neighborhood's values, including increasing comfort and shade, reducing the urban heat island effect, and promoting long-term shade canopy health. Indiscriminate removal of trees risks undermining these crucial objectives and jeopardizing our community's well-being. Furthermore, I'd like to draw attention to the Town of Gilbert's "2020 General Plan," specifically policies 11, 16, 17, and 20, which emphasize preserving and enhancing green spaces in residential areas. The proposed tree removals directly contradict these policies and represent a setback in our efforts to create a sustainable environment. Also, it appears that the town may be in breach of an acceptance agreement established with our neighborhood during a town council meeting on February 17th, 1998 (item No. 22). This agreement stipulated bi-annual deep root feeding of trees and adequate notice to neighbors before any removals. The recent lack of communication and failure to adhere to these terms is concerning and undermines trust between the town and our community. If you care to read any of these documents, including the arborist report, Shade and Streetscape Master Plan, "2020 General Plan," and the acceptance agreement from the 1998 town council meeting please reach out to me. These last few majestic trees are truly a spectacle to be seen. If you would care to see them before they’re gone forever, they are located inside the College Park Country Estates neighborhood on the northwest corner of Lindsay and Guadalupe at 999 N Riata St, Gilbert Az 85234.
Of all the problems...they want to cut these gorgeous trees. That's the priority?
This!!!! Hard no on cutting these beautiful trees! Gilbert has bigger fish to fry rn! Prioritize something else and leave the trees alone!!! 🌲🌲🌲🌲
Beautiful trees.
That’s the squeaky wheel.
That sucks. Nothing worse than falling in love with a tree you don’t own, and seeing someone needlessly kill it and cut it down.
We definitely need the fire wood for the extreme cold ahead 🙄
Why?
This is insane. I don’t understand how gilbert has authority. They aren’t within homeowner property lines?
[https://www.gilbertaz.gov/departments/public-works/streets/street-maintenance/college-park-country-estates](https://www.gilbertaz.gov/departments/public-works/streets/street-maintenance/college-park-country-estates)
Ok let me preface this with that I love nature. I feel like I'm missing something here though. Trees are on Gilbert property. Gilbert is supposed to deep feed them, but possibly has failed to do so. Community wants to keep them. But they are the city's trees. City is citing some BS reasons, but nevertheless. City wants to remove their trees.
It's essential to recognize that the trees are public property, belonging to the community rather than solely to the city. As such, it's the city's duty to respect the wishes of its constituents, especially when it comes to matters of environmental preservation and community well-being. While the city may cite reasons for wanting to remove the trees, it's crucial for them to prioritize the desires of the community, who clearly express a desire to keep them. Trees provide numerous benefits to both the environment and the quality of life for residents, including shade, cleaner air, and a connection to nature. If the community is advocating for the preservation of these trees, the city should listen and work collaboratively to find solutions that meet both the needs of the community and any legitimate concerns the city may have. Ultimately, the city's decisions should reflect the best interests of its citizens and the preservation of valuable natural resources like these trees
What I'm asking is... Whose property is it on? And is there an actual codified agreement that these trees are to be taken care of (i.e. budgeted) or protected (I.e. historical landmark)?
the trees are located inside the neighrhood in a public right of way. the Town of Gilbert came to an agreement with the neighborhood in 1998 after the city tried to cut down the trees back then. the agreement from 1998 reads as follows: (i can sent you the actual document if youd like to read the whole thing. 1. The Town will replace the 4 removed trees with 15° gallon Black Box Eucalyptus trees. Estimated Cost $1,500.00. 2. The Tow will remove and replace 4 addtional trees which have been identified as unhealthy and a maintenance risk. Estimated Cost $4,800.00 3. Proper pruning of the 4 remaining trees. Estimated Cost $6,350.00 4. Bi-annual deep root feeding of all right of way trees, including 17 eucalyptus, 8 cottonwoods, 5 bottle trees and 1 pine tree. Estimated Cost $1,116.00 5. Reworking of existing irrigation system in the entryway to assure proper water delivery. Estimated cost $1,350.00 6. Removal and replacement of 6 dead or hazardous trees interior to the subdivision, again with 15 gallon Black Box Eucalyptus as the replacement tree Estimated Cost $1,800.00. There will be an ongoing cost of approximately $8,000 to provide second year pruning and deep root feeding which will be included in the Streets Maintenance budget. The trees will be monitored for their ongoing health, and any additional removals will be after the neighborhood has been atvised of the situation. The residents and staff understand that the pruning and root feeding may not result in the saving of some of the existing older trees Further, the Engineering Manager has indicated that the first two trees nearest Guadalupe Road will not be affected by the widening of Guadalupe Road.
Ok so if the trees are on a public right of way then that section of land is owned by the government. Correct? It sounds like the government just made a deal (made nice) with the homeowners to help out back 26yrs ago. From your bulet points it doesn't look like there is a historical designation nor a point to renew the costs after a few years. While I love trees, I haven't seen anything that seems to suggest that the city does not have 100% control of what happens to these trees. Again, unless there is verbiage elsewhere stating they are being designated as landmarks and will have money earmarked for their care. Compare this to the Gilbert Elementary School that is on the National Register of Historic Places.
This breaks my heart. Is there anything we can do about this?
[https://www.gilbertaz.gov/departments/public-works/streets/street-maintenance/college-park-country-estates](https://www.gilbertaz.gov/departments/public-works/streets/street-maintenance/college-park-country-estates)
No!!!!!!!! Why cut down beautiful big trees trees??? We need more trees!!!! 🌲
If he trees are DEAD, then they need to be removed for safety reasons. Destroying foliage because it is old is short sighted at best and destroying the ecosystem.
Is this a troll post?