Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Bellevue resolves dispute over tree

Resident to replace box elder with a young maple


By TONY EVANS
Express Staff Writer

The city of Bellevue has resolved an issue regarding the cutting of an 80-year-old box elder tree on city property along Second Avenue.

In mid-Septmber, Sarah Long paid to have a large box elder bordering her property on Second Avenue removed, saying that it posed a threat of falling limbs and that the tree was diseased. The tree was one of many designated as "heritage trees" by city officials when the city conducted an inventory of significant trees nine years ago.

Long had the tree removed without contacting City Hall, in violation of the city's tree ordinance.

The City Council voted last week that Long be required to replace it with a 5-inch diameter maple rather than pay the city for the value of the original tree, as required by the ordinance.

"The council was interested in using this incident as an educational moment," Blanchard said.

Blanchard said a newspaper article detailing the incident has resulted in numerous calls to City Hall from property owners inquiring about trees bordering their property. He said there were more calls to prune or remove trees than the city can pay for.

"From that standpoint it has been a success," he said. "We encourage people to prune trees on city property themselves, but we want them to contact the city first and have it done under the guidance of an arborist."

According to arborist John Wilkes, who brought the cutting of the tree to the council's attention earlier this month, value could have been $3,000 to $4,000, based on the amount that Idaho Power Co. offered to pay in compensation if he removed trees that were interfering with power lines.

Blanchard said that although Long cut the tree in violation of city regulations, she also had several other trees on city property pruned at her own expense.

"They did a good job on them," he said. "Long's total contribution to the city was significant."

Tony Evans: tevans@mtexpress.com




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