Pink Slip: Neighbors began filing appeals with the city arborist after they spotted pink notices bearing the news that trees on Parkside Avenue would be removed because they are cracking the sidewalks.
Photograph by Skye Dunlap
Neighbors are fuming over plan to cut trees on Parkside
City wants to cut down 16 trees for street, sidewalk and gutter repairs
By Chantal Lamers
Residents of Parkside Avenue in Willow Glen live on an unusual street. On the L-shaped street, which surrounds a portion of River Glen Park, sidewalks are being pushed off the ground into mound-like forms. Driveways and streets are cracked. When it rains, the streets flood.
The culprits, city officials say, are the shallow roots of 30 Liquidambar (or sweet gum) trees planted along Parkside Avenue. The solution is to remove 16 of the trees and repair curbs, gutters, sidewalks, driveways and streets.
But residents of the street don't want to see the 46-year-old trees cut down. Residents say the trees shade their homes and are part of Willow Glen's ambiance.
On July 25, residents of Parkside Avenue began to notice pink warning signs stapled to the trees lining their street. The notices, placed there by the city arborist, say the trees may be removed for new construction and that residents had seven days to file objections.
Chris Chiechi, a permit technician for the city arborist, says three objection letters have been filed. The city arborist will hold a hearing, tentatively scheduled in September, so residents can voice their objections.
Gary Thompson, deputy director for San Jose public works department, says if the arborist approves the removal of the 16 trees, some cracked driveways, sidewalks and portions of the street will be repaired. He says that the curbs and gutters on the street will be replaced and additional storm drains will be added to prevent flooding.
Thompson says if the arborist doesn't approve the removal of the trees, the shallow tree roots will have to be cut in order to make street improvements. And if that happens, he says the trees will either die or the roots will grow back in a few years and cause the same problems.
Jack Kogel, a Parkside Avenue residents for 30 years, says he and his neighbors are afraid the streets will seem desolate if the trees are cut down.
"Everybody is unhappy, but they don't know what to do," Kogel says. "Part of the neighborhood is the trees."
Kogel says planting new trees is a nice idea, but he'll never see them grow as tall as the Liquidambars that now line his street.
"In 50 years, I'll be long dead by the time the trees are the way they are now."
Kogel thinks it's reasonable to remove one or two trees.
Parkside Avenue property owner Kathy Espinoza-Howard says she is working with Our City Forest, a nonprofit organization striving to plant more trees in the valley, to come up with alternatives to removing the trees.
Steve Booker, who just bought a house on the street, says part of the reason he bought it is because the trees shade the home.
According to the city arborist, posted notices are not a permit to remove trees. Removal of trees adjacent to property owners can't be removed without written approval from the city arborist.
The deadline for submitting written comments on the plan has been extended. For more information, call the city arborist at 408.277.2762.
Willow Glen, California Since 1992
