Maybe utilities should pay the locality for trimming trees to protect electric lines
Because the utility companies and their contractors seem to be somewhat heavy handed. It's hard to believe that "right now all of a sudden" this tree became suddenly dangerous after growing for the past 3-4 decades unhindered.
This once somewhat grand tree has been hacked by the local electric utility. 3rd Street at Blair Road NW, Takoma DC.
Labels: electric utility infrastructure, neighborhood planning, trees and urban forestry, urban design/placemaking
posted by Richard Layman @ 10:25 AM&Permanent Link
7 Comments:
Yep - hate this.
Again in the real suburbs a street tree like that isn't such a big deal, but in an urban area we need rules on touching trees that are older than 40 years.
Actually, we have rules. There should have been a permit issued for this tree to be touched. https://ddot.dc.gov/service/public-space-tree-permit
Casey Trees worked for several years with DDOT/UFA folks and the City Council to finally, successfully get the minimum circumference for street trees lowered from 55" to 44" -- DCRA continues with its enforcement dysfunctionality.
-EE
I expect that a permit was issued.
The issue is the butchering.
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--I expect that a permit was issued.--
There had to be a rationale before the permit was issued and, since it looks to be more than 44" in circumference, the ANC could have objected under the new regulations. -EE
Well, I am on the ANC Public Works and Infrastructure Committee, so I guess I can look into this further.
2. Although it's too late. It turns out that was only the first part of taking down the tree.
I took a photo yesterday. All the limbs have been cut, there is no growth evident anymore.
It must be coming down in toto.
I imagine it has to do with its proximity to the main road. But I'll look into it further.
My guess is that the power company's excuse was (or will be) the placement of the tree between those two large poles and its growth up into the web of lines. It is sad because, judging by the crosscuts of the limbs, the tree was pretty healthy and could have gotten even bigger. Palisades has had this same quandary (and subsequent butchery) over the years with the street trees and power/phone/streetlight lines. I'll see if I can find some examples in my giant cache. -EE
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