After meeting with citizens in an open house last week, the City of Spokane determined that it will try to preserve up to six trees on Bernard Street that were originally planned to be removed. In addition, the road will be striped differently to enhance safety and provide a traffic calming effect.
Citizens provided many thoughtful comments on this project at last week's open house, two neighborhood meetings, a meeting of the Citizens Street Advisory Commission, and at the Community Assembly as well as through phone calls and email.
"We heard the citizens, and we are taking steps to lessen the impact of this project," said Mayor Dennis Hession. "This plan provides a balance of sound street reconstruction practices, maintaining effective traffic movement and neighborhood concerns."
After further consultation and recommendations from the City Parks and Engineering Services departments, the Mayor has committed to try to preserve up to six of the remaining 12 trees. "Our staff in both Parks and Engineering Services have responded to citizens' concerns and thoroughly reviewed the City's Bernard Street plans and brought forward recommendations for my consideration," Hession said.
As a result, the Mayor has directed staff to proceed with steps to:
- Remove the 12 damaged, topped, and diseased trees that the City arborist has determined must be removed with or without the construction project.
- Remove the 6 trees that have severely overgrown or deflected the curb.
- Excavate around the 6 trees that don't have roots encroaching beyond the curb line to see if they may be preserved. The arborist will direct this work and will be on site during construction around the trees this summer to make the final evaluation. Even with this process it is possible that some of the remaining 6 trees may still have to be removed.
The City of Spokane plans to rehabilitate Bernard from 14th to 29th avenues this summer using money from the voter-approved 2004 Street Bond. Twenty-four trees along Bernard, between 17th and 24th avenues, originally were expected to be removed, but the City has adjusted those plans in response to citizen concerns. Half of the trees would have to be removed with or without the construction project, the City's arborist has concluded.
Many of the trees are in poor health because of root systems that are too shallow and damage from past storms and improper trimming. They have caused sidewalk and street damage and are interfering with utilities in the area. Unfortunately, these particular trees were an inappropriate choice for the 18- to 24-inch planting strips along this section of Bernard. Trees of this size and species require a much larger planting strip. The City standard for new planting strips is five feet.
An application to remove the trees will be processed and approved by the Parks Director, who is the responsible official for administering the Urban Forestry Program. Then, adjacent property owners will be given a 30-day notice before work will proceed.
The City will plant 24 new trees along this stretch to make up for the loss of trees, enhancing the neighborhood for future generations. The arborist has identified a number of locations that are appropriate for large shade trees that eventually could provide a canopy over Bernard. The City will not reduce the width of the street because of the impact on the City’s entire arterial street system, which moves traffic effectively throughout our community and provides routing for other important infrastructure such as power and telecommunications.
"We know street trees are important assets which enhance our neighborhoods, and we will work to reserve as many as we can," says Mayor Hession. "Still, this project will provide a much-improved street that will enhance the neighborhood for many years to come." |
