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Tacoma Urbanist

Jan. 31, 2008 at 12:22am

Metro Parks: Let The Tree Cutting Begin

Metro Parks is set to begin sawing down a number of trees in Point Defiance and Wright Park.

Metro Parks Tacoma has marked 23 dead or dying trees for removal along the outer loop of Five Mile Drive at Point Defiance Park.

The trees, mostly hemlocks, are considered at high risk for falling and will be removed in early February, according to a news release. Metro Parks’ policy is to leave a dead tree standing unless it poses a high risk of falling.

Here is one slated for the chainsaw at Wright Park few people may know about.




A closer look:



I don't have any information which would make me believe these trees should not be sawed down.  However, I am still a bit sore over Metro Parks decision to cut down a row of seemingly perfectly health and blooming at Puget Park in Proctor:




The picture does do them justice.  Two cell phones ago.  I think the answer given at the time was that they were not "native" or something like that.  In any event, they looked alot better than what is there now.

comments [8]  |  posted under tacoma, washington, wright park
Comments

by fredo
on 3/13/2008 @ 12:22pm
If the City wants to remove a beautiful grove of trees-that can be done, and it probably won't require any public input. If you are a property owner and want the city to remove a problem tree they will battle you tooth and nail until you finally give up. Tacoma's defense is always the same "its the plan!" No plan can ever be modified unless it's in the best interest of the planner.

by Erik
on 3/13/2008 @ 12:29pm
I have heard that one cannot prune the tree in front of their house. True?

by thriceallamerican
on 3/13/2008 @ 12:36pm
Cannot, or cannot legally?

I definitely can...and for that matter, definitely have.

by Erik
on 3/13/2008 @ 12:45pm
I definitely can...and for that matter, definitely have.

Yes. Most people I know trim the trees in front of their house. In fact, alot of people take over the green buffer between the street and sidewalk completely and place all sorts of things there like red rocks and gateways.

by Jake
on 3/13/2008 @ 1:07pm
You are required as a property owner to maintain the right-of-way even though you don't own it.

Owners Obligations to Maintain

Just one of the helpful items you can find on JacobRoseRE.com :)

by Erik
on 3/13/2008 @ 2:42pm
Perfect combination of combining content with self promotion. Nice job Jake.

Are you watching youresthetician's ?

i.feedtacoma.com/youresthetician/

by Jake
on 3/13/2008 @ 5:38pm
Well the document is on my website.. the web host just has a funky way of hosting the uploaded documents (control.cisdata.net address).. So I wanted to make sure everyone knows where it is coming from.

by fredo
on 3/13/2008 @ 7:41pm
You may not legally trim the trees in front of your house that are in the city right-of-way. The fine for this offense is (you'd better sit down at this point) $1000 per tree because you've damaged city property. In order to legally prune these trees will need to purchase a permit from the City of Tacoma for $300 per tree and hire a certified arborist (you may select from a list the city will provide for you) to do the cutting, estimate about $200 per tree. These costs are enforceable even if the City planted the tree(s) in question.
Better hope this city-owned tree doesn't break your sidewalk or your neighbor's side sewer. Those costs range from $2000 to $6000 by my estimate. Tacoma's dream of creating an "urban forest" is becoming a nightmare for local property owners.
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