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Photograph by Jacqueline Ramseyer
Trees to Meet You: Neighbors living on Parkside Avenue gathered to discuss the removal of trees that line the street. Public Works spokesman Tuan Lam (pointing) talks to the owners about their options: keeping the old trees or getting new ones.
City works out compromise on trees with Parkside residents
Homeowners will have choice between old trees or new ones
By Chantal Lamers
A neighborhood that was once divided on what should be done with 30 liquidambar trees is reluctantly saying goodbye to most of the mature trees that line the shady street.
The trees on Parkside Avenue have been the subject of a small controversy in the neighborhood across the street from River Glen Park. Public Works project manager Tuan Lam says the trees should to be removed so curb, gutter, sidewalk and street repairs can be made successfully.
The shallow roots of the liquidambar trees are pulling up sidewalks, destroying curbs and gutters on the street, public works officials say.
On Sept. 6, officials from the San Jose City arborist and Public Works Department held a public hearing on Parkside Avenue to discuss resident's options.
At the Parkside Avenue Tree Public Hearing city officials gave residents three options. Residents can have their liquidambar tree or trees removed and have a 24-inch box Yarwood sycamore. Residents also have the option of replacing liquidambars with 24-inch box Chinese pistache trees. A third option is to keep the liquidambar and accept full responsibility for any damage the tree may cause in the future.
Lam says residents who decide to have their tree removed could have that done by the end of September.
San Jose city arborist Mark Beaudoin says that in order to do the repairs on Parkside Avenue, the trees either need to be removed or the roots of the trees must be trimmed. Beaudoin says there's a chance some trees may die if they aren't removed. He says trees that die will be removed at the city's expense, but not replaced.
Beaudoin says the roots on all four sides of the tree will be trimmed. He says because the roots will be trimmed on four sides, the tree has a greater chance of dying or falling within two to three years.
At the meeting, at least 10 residents signed forms stating they wanted the liquidambars in front of their homes removed and replaced with Chinese pistaches. Many residents were still undecided and only one resident decided she did not want her tree removed.
Kathy Espinoza-Howard said she signed a contract not to have the liquidambar trees removed from the front of her property. Espinoza-Howard grew up in the home on Parkside Avenue and currently rents the home to tenants.
Melinda Waller, legislative assistant for Vice Mayor Frank Fiscalini, says residents were given options of different trees so they could choose from a fast growing tree like the Yarwood sycamore or a tree that provides an umbrella-like canopy such as the Chinese Pistache.
Waller says residents have about two weeks from the hearing date to decide the status of the liquidambars in front of their property.
Jack Kogel was originally opposed to having the trees in front of his home removed. "My wife really wants it to be uniform," Kogel says. He is still upset the trees have to go. He says the trees provide a great amount of shade to the street and to his home.
Pat Lahey has decided to replace his liquidambars, too. "I didn't really want the trees removed because of the shade," he says. "The city doesn't really leave us another option."
Lahey says the city recently paid to replace a portion of his sidewalk that was damaged by tree roots. He says the roots have grown onto his front lawn but it doesn't really bother him.
Clifford Gutterman is having his tree removed and replaced with a Chinese pistache as with many of his neighbors. He says in the long term, he'd rather have a canopy-like tree than a fast-growing tree.
"Like any change, at the beginning it's hard, but you get used to it," Gutterman says.
Resident Nancy Kell says she has had a lot of trouble with the surface roots breaking into her water meter pipes.
Kell already had one of the liquidambars in front of her home removed at her own expense. She's more than happy to have the city remove the troublesome tree.
"I'm sick of them in my lawn, on my feet, in my car and on the street," Kell says.
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Willow Glen, California Since 1992
