The destruction of trees and woodlands concerns many residents as developers clear trees for new neighborhoods.
Officials say residents may get angry, but landowners have property rights.
Independence Township Treasurer Paul Brown requested trustees discuss a tree and woodlands ordinance at their Nov. 10 meeting.
“If we pass a trees and woodlands policy now, it will protect us for other developments,” Brown said.
Developer Michael Furnari plans on clearing 26 acres he owns at Dixie and Deer Hill for 92 condos.
Once those old trees are destroyed they are gone forever, township resident Bob White said.
His neighbors agree.
“Who will speak for this oak tree that are more than 100 years,” said White’s neighbor Chelsea O’Brien. “They cannot be replaced.”
Independence Township’s Planning Commission approved Furnari’s development plan in August.
Residents remain outspoken about several aspects of the development, including safety issues of building a neighborhood on top of a high-profile petroleum pipeline, and of environmental concerns including destruction of numerous trees scattered throughout the property.
Furnari, Brown, township supervisor Pat Kittle, neighborhood residents and a representative from Clinton River Watershed walked the 26-acre parcel of property Deer Hill and Dixie to discuss the woodlands, Sept. 28.White expressed disappointment that Furnari rejected requests to save any trees residents pointed out.
“Site paving and grading plans for the current 92 rental unit site plans indicate buildings, roads, walks and underground utilities are located on the site, requiring a complete clear cut of all trees,” White said.
White believes Furnari’s site layout was designed to maximize the number of units.
“It has little to no regard, sensitivity or attempt to preserve the environment,” he said.
“Rolling topography and the dense natural woodland features provide natural buffering to the existing Deer Hill Farms subdivision and Deer Hill Drive and natural beauty of the township,” White said.
“All of these features essential to maintaining the pastoral character of adjoining neighborhood, the township and the community at-large will be removed.”
Mature trees range in size upwards to 28 feet around and 50 to 60 in height will be gone.
In their place, Furnari will plant standard evergreen trees between eight to 10 feet high.
A site survey, completed over a decade ago, identified groupings of trees and trees over four feet wide.
“There were over 660 individual trees over four-foot caliper on the 26 acre site. Of the over 660 trees identified on the site plan documents, over 280 were considered in good condition. Over 220 were considered fair condition with the remaining 167 or more listed as in poor condition.”
Some of the mature healthy trees on the lot are up to 28 feet wide.
“Minimal discussion has taken place at Planning Commission or Board level regarding the impact of removing over 500 valuable trees,” White said.
“The pictures illustrate the magnitude of the loss of the existing natural features…mature stands of trees, secondary growth, and ground cover.”
The Nov. 10 meeting will be at Independence Township Hall, 7 p.m.