Mary Hennig has lived at her Allen Road address since 1952. A naturalist told her a large White Oak tree outside her home has lived there at least 150 years, possibly 200 years.
Hennig believed it was worth saving, and those in Independence Township government apparently agree.
The large tree ? and several others along the edge of Allen Road ? were slated for destruction to make way for new water and sewer lines to serve a new residential development just north of Hennig’s home.
Thanks to the cooperation of township officials, engineers and a developer, the trees appear to be guaranteed an extended life.
Thursday, Aug. 26, Hennig received notification of same from township officials. She called Clerk Joan McCrary, who put Hennig in touch with David Belcher, the township’s facilities management director.
‘They’ve been very cooperative in working with us to have an alternative,? Hennig said.
As with most public roads, Allen Road is platted with an extended right-of-way, giving government the right to have access for utility work or road widening. Hennig said she understands the law.
‘They do have the right [to take out the trees], but they also have a moral right to try to save our environment,? Hennig said. ‘I think the builders don’t realize that.?
Land preparation has already begun on the Brookstone Hills single family residence development, and Hennig said about 20 acres has been clear cut, based on the view from her back porch.
McCrary said an alternative seems likely. Thanks to the willingness of county road engineers to rework the plans, and thanks to the developer’s willingness to delay his construction, the water and sewer lines will be placed closer to the center of the existing roadway, thus saving most of the existing trees.
Revised engineering plans were scheduled to be hammered out Monday evening.
‘At this moment, that’s where it stands,? McCrary said Monday afternoon, noting the developer has also agreed to attempt replacement of any roadway trees which die up to two years after the construction.
None of this means a compromise in the township’s legal right to the road easement, but in this case there was recognition that, ‘Everyone’s been using it since time began,? McCrary said. ‘It’s a beautiful tree-canopy road.?
It will still be a construction-laden road, and residents will have to tolerate road closings and lane shifts until the work is complete.
That appears to be alright with Hennig, who is hopeful the new plan will be workable.
‘Otherwise I’ll probably be chained to the tree,? she said.