Yikes, Live Oaks on the chopping block

[lindab]

Just received a message from a well known radio personality regarding FDOT's plan to cut down 9 very large live oaks to widen Old Kings Road in Picketville. The residents have been agitating about this for months now with council persons. I have also heard that FDOT is exempt from obeying local tree ordinances. Does anyone know about this project and those trees?

[Diane Melendez]

This fight has been going on for years now, lead by one man who rivals RTSH with his visits to city council. The oaks are beautiful and the gentleman has been arguing to save them for years. His arguments have fallen on deaf ears.

This is a complete shame.

Dave, have you heard anything more about this?

[lindab]

Diane: You are a mine of information. I just received this name - Dennis Lavery, who has worked for 2 years to save the 9 live oak trees. Could he be the one? Almost everyone has seen the trees on Bowden Road that were saved by splitting the road and leaving the trees in the middle. Beautiful. Why can't that work here?

FDOT isn't making any friends by doing this.

[RiversideGator]

It often seems that ALL FDOT cares about is moving the most cars from Point A to Point B. They dont seem to care much about the urban fabric of a neighborhood or the trees in the more rural/suburban areas either. I wish they would take a more holistic approach to their planning in the future.

[Diane Melendez]

lindab.

Yes it is Dennis, A/K/A the tree man. He can give you a blow by blow description about the situation, so can Dave Siebert. The area which has been identified as the one to expand the road is a very poor choice. There is another more viable route that will not impact the trees. Yet the powers at be that have set there eyes on the current plan are not willing to listen to the alternatives.

[lindab]

There is another more viable route that will not impact the trees. Yet the powers at be that have set there eyes on the current plan are not willing to listen to the alternatives.

Who do you think has any power in this situation? The mayor? the media?

I hate to say it but it seems like the northside residents who complain get less attention than southside residents. Is it because the councilman for that area is only responsive to big business?

[avonjax]

The sad part about this situation is that this is a very old and unglamourous area.
The trees in question are very beautiful.
It's a complete tragedy that they are going down....
If this was Mandarin, Ortega, Riverside, Avondale, etc, there would be a HUGE fight to save them.
I so hope something can be worked out to save them.....

[Diane Melendez]

lindab,

PM Dave Siebert (Radiotalkshowhost). He can give you a run down of who is who in this situation. This has gone to the Mayor, the council, department heads and the media. I believe it's down to the DOT. Dave will be happy to tell you who should be the focus of additional efforts in this case.

[Charles Hunter]

Are you sure it's the DOT? I don't think Soutel is a state road?

[Diane Melendez]

I am not completely sure Charles. I have heard alot of discussion about the topic and I think the DOT came into the picture when an alternate route was discussed. Dave will know the scoop on that.

[RADIO TALK SHOW HOST]

http://www.metjax.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2001&highlight=picketville+road

[lindab]

Andy Johnson has talked Michael Blaylock of the FDOT into a two week delay on tree cutting while they study the issue. Anyone wanting to participate in talks with FDOT should call Andy at AM 1320, WBOB.

Letters welcomed to the mayor asking him to assume a more pro-active position on tree protection (after all, he used to be with Greenscape) for these 9 ancient live oaks.

Thanks to all for the information and interest, especially Diane and Dave.
Here's hoping this works.

[Charles Hunter]

minor correction, Mr. Blaylock is Executive Director of JTA (http://jtafla.com/about/exec_dir.aspx), not FDOT.