The City of Lost Oaks

Majestic row of street trees razed, along with affordable Country Club Homes

Long-time Raleigh resident and Midtown CAC Chair Larry Helfant submitted this essay as an open-letter to Raleigh’s City Council:     

As everyone knows, you can’t have walkability without shade tree coverage. Trees are the core of environmental relief and make simple things like waiting for a bus or strolling down a sidewalk pathway more comfortable.

However, in Raleigh, there are many factors that contribute to tree loss and prohibit the return of medium and large tree replacements.

Besides the State limitations on regulating clear cutting, there are other limitations that many people do not know.

A recent rezoning project at Millbrook and Falls of Neuse involved the loss of trees in the right of way. It turns out that NCDOT policy will not permit that addition of trees in the ROW along NCDOT roadways. Both trees and the bus shelter were moved close to the new building to restore both shade and shelter. That leaves the sidewalk area that is in the right of way unshaded because the replacement trees are ornamental in nature and do not offer as much shade coverage.

The City ordinances then complicate the picture further. By moving new buildings closer to the roadway, sometimes within 5 feet of the right of way, larger trees which offer more shade cover cannot be planted with reasonable setbacks as exists with the current tree canopy that you see in many places around the City.

I encourage policy change that pushes buildings back to both save existing trees and allow for more shade cover. The additional frontage offerings of Green frontage and, even better, Green Plus frontage offer more flexibility in site planning and allow for more selectivity in tree choices, while extending the life of those trees.

Then there is Missing Middle. In trying to add more density, frontage, side yard and back yard setbacks have been reduced to allow more land usage for different housing types. You heard the result of this from your speakers. Existing trees between properties have their root systems destroyed when the yard is leveled and landscaped for those new home additions. Neighbors do not have a voice in what goes in next to or behind them. They only receive notification for something that can now be constructed by right.

Shifting gears to traffic circles. As far as I know, Mourning Dove was one of the first streets to add chicanes to slow traffic. We have now used both chicanes and circles to limit traffic speeds. The one thing that these road modifications all have in common is that drivers drive through them for a number of reasons. There is not any plan that I know of to add landscaping because the City is tired of the constant replacement costs. It is bad enough that they knock down warning signs and cones. Can you imagine adding more natural impediments like shrubbery and small trees?

The current study to preserve treescapes and mature trees is not a new one. About ten years ago, I asked Council for a comparison to other communities in both our local area and within the State so we could strengthen our tree policies. Turns out that both Charlotte and nearby Cary have stronger policies. Cary even has a neighborhood HOA policy where residents have to obtain approval from neighbors before removing trees from their property. I suggest that staff reach out to neighboring communities to get more input before trying to establish additional tree protection policies.

We are quickly becoming the “City of Lost Oaks.”

Let’s change that for the health and comfort of all Raleigh residents.

Regards,
Larry

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