Great trees, and not the great houses, are the glory of our old neighborhoods. Their absence, by want of time and designated green space, is half the reason why our new high density housing developments are so alienating to the human spirit.
Canvasing his neighborhood for signatures for his petition, retired journalist Tom Murphy was nevertheless astonished by the near unanimity of his neighbors: They wanted the 70-year-old redwood at 721 Spring St. saved from destruction. (Of 115 neighbors he spoke to, 109 signed to deny the permit, three abstained and three were in favor of removal.)
Stories Murphy informally collected from his neighbors spoke to a depth of feeling for this familiar tree. Trees are dead capital—or that’s what the law says. But there is seemingly something more to them. It’s as if, in their graciously spreading green growth, large trees slowly acquire some limited personhood. That would explain the way people relate to them, live with them and grieve for them when they are cut down.
The redwood at 721 Spring St. has even been given a human name by its protectors, “Rosie.” Rosie the redwood.
Perhaps I have crossed the line into mysticism. Putting that to one side, the Arbor Day City of Santa Rosa recognizes the vital importance of heritage trees in its very charter—citing a long list of aesthetic and economic benefits heritage trees confer. It further says that no heritage tree should be removed unnecessarily.
Which is why it is shocking that this “statement of legislative intent” was ignored in the city planner’s letter approving of Rosie’s destruction. Subordinate code was cited—but not the intent for which that code was written and should be applied. What was cited was the decision of a professional arborist who believes that the tree could further damage the sidewalk. But Murphy notes that that arborist is also a professional tree remover—a clear conflict of interest.
Tom Murphy: In speaking with my neighbors, I’ve realized there is gross dissatisfaction with the high number of trees that have been removed without so much as a hearing in the past few years… Unfortunately, I suspect this is a citywide problem that should concern everyone who loves Santa Rosa’s trees.
Cincinnatus Hibbard: I understand you are seeking the professional assessment of an independent arborist (that has no tree felling business) and will appeal the decision before the City Planning Commission and even the City Council if necessary.
We’ll immediately ask more about the reasoning, but we plan to file an appeal to the Planning Commission. Unfortunately, that is a costly step. People who wish to help may donate to our GoFundMe account at tinyurl.com/rosieredwood.
The main reason the City names for removal is extensive damage to the sidewalk at the tree’s roots.
We ALL want the sidewalk fixed. Nobody should ever have poured a concrete sidewalk so close to a healthy redwood, knowing it would eventually rip through the sidewalk. The solution lies in moving the sidewalk a few feet away from the tree, not destroying the tree.
Final thoughts…
When anyone cuts down a heritage tree unnecessarily, they are cutting down our heritage. There is a clear, preferred and cheaper alternative to fix the sidewalk without destroying this beautiful tree.
Learn more: Tom Murphy is asking for lovers of redwoods and heritage trees to email the Santa Rosa Planning Commission at pl******@****ty.org. Also cc the director of planning, go*****@****ty.org, and Murphy himself at **@********ge.com. The subject line should include ‘Tree Removal at 721 Spring St.’
