Tree removal sparks controversy

This year, the city of Pittsburgh will continue its plan to cut down 3,185 diseased or… This year, the city of Pittsburgh will continue its plan to cut down 3,185 diseased or damaged street trees. The seven-year tree management plan began in 2006, but many residents are upset that they were only recently informed of this plan.

A group of Squirrel Hill residents is especially unhappy that the city proceeded with this plan without their knowledge or input.

Squirrel Hill resident Lewko Korzeniwsky and his wife Terri Glueck organized meetings with neighbors to raise public awareness of the systematic tree removal.

Korzeniwsky said that residents of the 18th ward in Squirrel Hill would be particularly affected since 557 city-owned trees in the area were ordained for removal.

“They were very angry. They felt helpless to stop it,” Korzeniwsky said. “We met with the board of directors of the Squirrel Hill Urban Forest Coalition. We couldn’t believe the plan put forth by the city was going forward without public input.”

City council president Doug Shields said that removal of these trees is necessary for public safety. In a citywide tree inventory conducted by the Davey Resource Group in August 2005, tree experts determined that about 10 percent of the city’s street trees were in danger of falling and possibly injuring people or damaging property.

Shields said that some residents disagree with the Davey inventory and argue that many trees designated as diseased by the survey are still viable.

When presented with such criticisms, Shields asked if the residents own the trees and if they are qualified to make judgments about the health of a tree.

The company recommended that these trees be removed, according to the Friends of the Pittsburgh Urban Forest’s website.

Davey Resource Group separated the trees suggested for removal into three priority levels. According to assistant city public works director Mike Gable, all of the most dangerous, priority-one level trees were removed in 2006.

Pitt Italian language professor and Squirrel Hill resident Francesca Savoia said nonprofit community group Friends of the Pittsburgh Urban Forest told her that priority two and three trees in the same locations are currently being cut down together for cost effectiveness.

Savoia thinks that the removal of lower priority trees could be postponed.

“Do not take the trees down that do not pose a real threat, not until we have the funds to replace them,” she said.

Korzeniwsky agrees.

“Why is there such a rush to remove all these trees? If the trees don’t pose a serious risk, why can’t they come down in a 25-year period?” he said.

Shields explained that because of state law, the city is liable for any injuries or damages caused by one of these trees since city public works officials have prior knowledge of the problem.

“If the tree is damaged, why would you want to postpone the removal?” Shields asked.

The tree management plan also includes provisions for planting trees. In conjunction with the cost of tree removing and pruning, the Davey Resource Group estimated that the cost of the plan would be more than $8 million.

This substantial amount is raising questions about the city’s ability to fund the program.

“I’m not going to tell you that I have the whole $8 million, but the city does have some capital money. It’s not always going to come from the city budget,” Gable said.

“Replanting is a concern, but people always want to give money to plant trees. There are lots of grants out there. However, we don’t get enough money to prune the trees.”

The plan calls for replanting 600 trees each year for seven years, but residents who are losing mature trees on their blocks are concerned about when trees will be replanted in their neighborhoods.

Korzeniwsky said the replanting plans are not adequate.

“The individual homeowners must request to plant a tree. The waiting list is about four years long. It is our understanding that areas that do not have a lot of trees will get priority over areas that are losing trees, like Squirrel Hill,” he said.

Some neighborhoods are raising their own money to replant trees.

In a letter from the mayor’s office to the Squirrel Hill residents, the residents were informed that they could either apply for the waiting list or plant their own trees.

The letter stated: “Forestry Division may also provide a no-cost permit for property owners who wish to plant a tree on city right of way at their own expense.”

The removal of city-owned trees has not been halted despite the controversy.

“In hindsight you see that we could or should have done a better job communicating the plan with the residents, but the plan went through three administrations: Mayor Murphy, Mayor O’Connor, and now Mayor Ravenstahl,” Gable said.

Concerned residents can meet with city officials in a forum to discuss the plan at 7 p.m. on Jan. 10 at the Children’s Institute in Squirrel Hill.