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Thursday, Sep. 03, 2009

Tip List: No one said the trees were growing

Merced has been designated a Tree City for more than a dozen years because of its abundant arboreal cover.

But a construction project in South Merced just made the city a little less green. A whole block on the corner of T and Fifth streets owned by the Central Valley Coalition for Affordable Housing (CVCAH), a nonprofit, was recently demolished.

But more than its many houses were torn down. More than 35 mature trees were ripped out, too.

For residents, the sudden absence of the once-leafy cover was a shock.

Tipster Laleacy Mills, who owns several properties in the area, said her tenants have been calling, wanting to know why all the trees were torn down. They told her that no one notified them that their block would be stripped bare.

I drove across town to see for myself these alleged torn-out trees. Sure enough, the block was cleared of houses and trees. Next to piles of rubble, tree stumps lined the property.

The owner of the property, according to the demolition crew on site, is the CVCAH. It's planning to build new housing on the site.

When I called Christine Alley, executive director of CVCAH, I was told by a secretary that she would be back in an hour. When I called back I was told she was out for the day. When I asked to speak to the supervisor, I was told that she was on a break. I asked for her supervisor's title, and the secretary hung up the phone.

According to the Merced Planning Department, any one tree taken down on a development must be replaced with two trees. Mark Hamilton of Planning said that the housing project's plans have been given the go-ahead. He said all the trees are on-site trees so they are allowed to be removed since they are not publicly owned. While they encourage people to save trees, in this case it's a private property issue.

What is wrong: The Central Valley Coalition for Affordable Housing has torn down more than 35 trees on its project site in South Merced. Some residents say no one told them the trees would be taken down.

Who is at fault: CVCAH for not telling people neighborhood trees would be cut down.

If you see something broken or in need of repair in your neighborhood, call the Sun-Star Tip List reporter, Jonah Owen Lamb, with your tips at (209) 385-2484 or e-mail jlamb@mercedsun-star.com.

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