Residents speak out against downed trees in Oakland

Several large trees in Oakland have been removed by developers in recent months, and residents have approached the Town Commission in hopes of putting a stop to it.

Three of the residents attended the commission’s Tuesday, July 9, meeting to express their concern and ask elected officials to impose heftier penalties for developers who don’t preserve the old trees.

The town has a tree ordinance, but Mayor Shane Taylor said it needs to be much stronger.

“Our tree ordinance and our tree structure is not up to par,” he said. “It’s something that was created in early 2000s … so I tasked (Town Manager Andy Stewart) along with the town planner to look at upgrading that and putting more, I’ll call it bite, into it — because right now there’s no bite to it. It’s a slap on the hand and ‘don’t do this again’ type of thing.”

Resident Meredith Rhein said she is deeply concerned about the recent removal of trees off Briley Avenue.

“These trees were not merely part of the landscape, they were living symbols of our community’s commitment to sustainability, beauty and … they are essential for our environment and our wellbeing,” she said. “We even named a town after them.”

Rhein asked the commission for clear rationale for why a specific tree at the intersection of Briley and Walker Street was removed.

“Was there imminent safety hazard?” she asked. “Were there alternate solutions … that could have saved the tree?”

Rhein suggested penalties need to increase for developers who remove mature trees.

“Let us commit to planting more trees than we remove,” she said. “The removal of trees on Briley Avenue serves as a poignant reminder of the delicate balance between progress and environmental stewardship.”

Taylor said the Briley Farms developer is handling this project differently than others.

“The project itself is not your normal, everyday residential project,” he said. “Their developer is clearing the roads only, and it’s up to the individual builder who will come in and clear the lots and can build the house. … There is no nefarious stuff that happened. … The tree was not on the Voss Property. It was on a platted road that continued; … the old town plat had Walker continuing on towards the lake.”

Another resident, Meredith Rosser, was upset to see a massive tree behind her house removed that was marked to be saved and wanted to know why it was taken out. She lives on Oakland Avenue, just north of the new subdivision, The Grove, being developed.

Taylor said that tree actually was slated to be removed.

“It was because of the drainage swell that ran behind your house and those houses to convey all the stormwater from flooding everybody out,” he said. “I know he had it marked, and he had it fenced off like it was going be saved but, unfortunately, that was not the case. … It was slated to come out … and that is on the plan.”

Resident Maureen Jacobsen asked the town about the possibility of having the moss removed from the trees in Speer Park now that it’s hurricane season. She said the moss weighs heavily on the limbs and weakens them.

Commissioner Mike Satterfield said a landscape crew handled the job annually in the past. Commissioner Sal Ramos suggested a volunteer day.

IN OTHER NEWS

• The Oakland Town Commission approved the consent agenda, which included a new memorandum of understanding between the town and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office regarding municipal agencies conducting sobriety tests at the county’s DUI testing center at Orange Blossom Trail and Grand Street. The updated MOU gives outside agencies permission to obtain evidence outside their jurisdiction as it pertains to DUI testing.

• Commissioners approved the MetroPlan Orlando funding agreement and will pay $429 annually. The town is part of the Municipal Advisory Committee and now has voting membership. Commissioner Sal Ramos is Oakland’s representative.

MetroPlan Orlando has been an important partner in transportation planning for the town with both the adopted Mobility Master Plan and construction funding for the roundabout at West Oakland Avenue and Old Highway 50.

• Ramos said he participated in the Kids’ All-American Parade July 4 and saw many Oakland residents and suggested the town of Oakland look at hosting a small holiday event of its own next year.

• Commissioner Rick Polland said he has asked former Commissioner Mona Phipps to help the town move forward with its Dark Sky Initiative, which has stalled in recent months.

• Town Manager Andy Stewart continues to work on a Community Redevelopment Agency program for Oakland, and the town will send out a request for proposal to find someone to conduct a needs assessment.