The Fairfax Town Council unanimously approved the removal of eight trees on Pastori Avenue at a special meeting on Oct. 20.
The Liquidamber trees border the east side of Good Earth’s east parking lot and range in size from 32 inches to 48 inches. An arborist otwn officials hired determined the trees need to be removed because they wouldn’t be structurally sound after a new sidewalk is installed this fall.
The new sidewalk and retaining wall on Pastori Avenue, funded by the Federal Non-Motorized Transportation Pilot Program, are part of Fairfax officials’ efforts to improve pedestrian, bicycle and other non-motorized transportation, according to the resolution the council adopted with the decision to remove the trees. A copy of the resolution is attached at the right.
Town officials selected B&M Construction to build the sidewalk and work began on Oct. 16. It was earlier, on Oct. 10, when the contractor, interim town manager and two engineers met to evaluate the trees, which would have major root damage done during the construction.
Interim Town Manager Judy Anderson said she decided to call a council meeting to make a decision about the trees because she wasn’t comfortable making the call on her own (and the town doesn’t have a public works director).
Ray Moritz, a consulting arborist, said the trees have structural defects that compromise their health, stability and longevity. He found the “existing tree conditions in conjunction with construction requirements would create a high risk of tree failure and a threat to people and property.”
Mortiz recommended the trees be removed and replaced with at least 15 24-inch box trees - which wouldn't create root damage to the town infrastructure. Mortiz and the landscape architect for the Fairfax-Anselm Plaza will determine which tree species are best for the site.
“They are beautiful trees. We don’t take trees out lightly,” Anderson told Patch.
The town council first held a special meeting on Oct. 16 to discuss the status of the trees. At that meeting, Good Earth representatives and the property owner expressed concerns about removing the trees, according to the tree removal resolution.
Councilmembers Ryan O’Neil and Vice Mayor John Reed did not attend the Oct. 20 meeting when the council approved the resolution.
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The crunchy, lumpy, sloped asphalt that used to be there was such a pain, that many (most) pedestrians just walked in the street. Additionally, many cars speed down Pastori as they turn off SFD. Having walked that stretch hundreds of times, I do not believe a good sidewalk could be put in without removing the trees (at least one that could accommodate ADA requirements and families with strollers). This is a worthy project in that it will help people safely walk downtown instead of using their cars to drive a few blocks. Again, sad to see the trees go. In a few years, new trees will begin to mature.
On another tangent, folks, please vote yes on Ca prop 37, and support labeling ove GMO foods. If you follow the money, Monsanto, etc, are spending $1 million per day to obfuscate the issue. Do you really believe Monsanto has anyone's best interests at heart?
Fairfax's character and charm is being paved over.
Unfortunately we've designed much of our infrastructure around driving everywhere with little thought to walking or riding bikes. Now that we've hit 37% obesity as a nation and gas is consistently over $4/gallon, we are playing an expensive game of "catch-up" to make our communities more liveable. Hindsight is 20/20. Preserving small town charm and character also means making communities more walkable/bikeable. It's stunning that people literally drive a few blocks rather than walk. It's stunning that people will drive a few blocks to Good Earth in an SUV for a few groceries, then fight for parking in a clogged parking lot.
But 20+ years ago we never thought there be a zillion fast moving cars and texting drivers on Pastori. Remember that Fairfax was largely a summer recreational community prior to the building of the GGB. Infrastructure planning is enormously complex. Hard to predict the future. If we only designed communities that were walk/bike friendly from the start, we'd all be better off.
Just my opinion.
It's too bad about the trees, yes, but that spot was a tragedy waiting to happen. Who's child would you allow to be injured to preserve those trees?
Mills won't accept trees like this, nor will they accept 98% of "yard trees" because they often have metal and other foreign matter in them which can damage milling equipment. Unless you have something really unusual (large black walnut, old growth redwood/cedar, exotic hardwoods, etc.), they just end up at the dump. The best recycled life they'll likely see is firewood in a couple years. These 8 trees might produce a few cords at best. $250-350/cord for soft wood is about right. That's after cutting it, loading it, hauling it, splitting it, letting it season for 2 years, and storing it for 2+ years, and sometimes delivery. The wood is pretty much worthless, it's the labor, trucking, and storage that's valuable. Sadly, that's the economic reality of domesticated trees.
b) Are Good Earth employees enduring some horrid exploitation none of us have ever heard about? Unions are generally a response to working conditions and lack of accountability in Management.
I dont have facts. But I am curious. My experience with so called right livelyhood new age type people is that they talk a good game but dont go out of their way to help the working class. We need unions. The weekend wasn't a gift from God. People fought hard and some lost their lives fighting for the working class.