The city has called on property owners to replant trees on the corner of Waldon and Main Street.
At the April 27 City Council meeting, City Manager Carol Eberhardt said property owner Ed Adler agreed to plant some flowers or trees on the lot. Adler said he never agreed to do so.
‘I just want to seed it with grass, so it can be maintained,” he said.
Many people have expressed concern over trees being cleared, but Adler said the lot was full of junk trees and garbage from people dumping trash.
Adler said he paid to have the lot cleaned up, and was just obeying city orders after receiving a “threatening” letter last summer, on May 8.
Adler said the letter was not sent to Washington Management, his property management business.
‘The city sent the letter to my home,” he said.
The letter was written by City Ordinance Officer Ralph Daigle.
‘Complaints have been received that the above referenced property has become an eyesore and needs to be cleaned up of all the trash that has accumulated on this property,” according to the letter. “As the owner of said property it is your obligation and duty to ensure that all of the mowing of the grass area is performed and maintained on a timely schedule. If you are unable to handle this task then the DPW staff will mow the grass on a weekly schedule and a bill for this service will be sent to you accordingly.?
Adler said DPW work would be added to his taxes, so he hired a contractor to clean up the lot.
Adler recently requested Eberhardt make copies of the letter he received last summer, but Eberhardt claimed she could not find the letter, so he provided the letter for her.
When the lot was being cleared, the city said Adler had pulled all the proper permits.
The Historic District Commission filed a complaint and sought a stop work order on the property after work was complete.
HDC’s Kara Catallo also attended a meeting and told city council she believed the city should pass an ordinance prohibiting similar projects from occurring.
Adler also consulted his lawyer.
‘There were no Maple or Oak trees. No one famous ever gave a speech under some enormous and beautiful tree on the lot. Nothing historical ever happened there. If some historic event took place there, or if it was declared a historic property, the HDC may have jurisdiction,? he said. ‘It’s just amazing one person took it upon themselves to interpret the ordinance.”
Now just seeding grass may requires HDC approval.
Adler said he does not want to cause trouble or have conflict with anyone in the city, but it is his property.
The property is zoned residential, and consists of six lots. Possible uses include a church, funeral home, group home, six family homes, or six trailer homes. These developments would require a building permit.
Discussions over the property cannot be found on the city website, and a messagesto the HDC was not returned.
In 1970, the state of Michigan established Historic districts. The city also has an ordinance pertaining to the HDC, which is also charged with safeguarding local heritage as well as Clarkston’s history, architecture, archaeology, engineering or culture.