Comments on: Protest halts destruction of trees on Wilmington Island, at least for now

By: Sustainable Savannah | Tracking sustainability news and events in Savannah, Georgia (and beyond) » State senate bill a threat to roadside trees

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 11:52:33 +0000

[...] readers may remember the controversy last year when Wilmington Island trees were sacrificed to make way for a deceleration lane. Why was it necessary to remove the trees? The protection of [...]

By: Karen Grainey

Karen Grainey — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 16:56:40 +0000

I second Marianne Heime’s comment about poorly planned growth being the true culprit when it comes to unsafe traffic conditions. The trees aren’t the problem. The benefits the trees provide are so great that it is worth the effort required to develop our roadways in such a way that our tree canopy is preserved.

Sadly, the trees the protesters tried to save were cut down on Saturday. Chairman Peter Liakakis and Commisssioner Farrell were there to witness the cutting. Pity they didn’t see fit to inform their constituents who learned via email after the fact that the trees they had tried to save were now gone. The protesters deserved to be treated better than that by their elected officials!

By: Marianne Heimes

Marianne Heimes — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 16:27:54 +0000

I believe that Karen answered this correctly. This lot has been a forest since the beginning of time. The safety aspect is questionable as the site is provided ready-made access to what is now a 3 way traffic signal. There is another entrance/exit to be provided through the bank lot next door.

All of Wilmington Island has become subject to accidents simply because planners allowed unbridled growth without taking a close look at the infrastructure. We are merely trying to look ahead in order to protect the canopy trees from whatever the planners decide to do.

By: karen

karen — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 14:53:03 +0000

Blind spots are not relevant in this case, since the entrance into this property is at a traffic light, which should offer adequate traffic control. These are huge live oaks. They have no low limbs and there is no question of blind spots.

The 2 trees in question are mature live oaks on the county right-of-way in front of a small lot. Most of Johnny Mercer Blvd. is covered with a canopy of live oaks. If every landowner of a similar-sized lot on Johnny Mercer decided to cut down 2 live oaks, there wouldn’t be a tree left on Johnny Mercer.

By: Thomas

Thomas — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 02:18:29 +0000

Wait, why are they being cut down? Have accidents happened there often?

I think this subject might be subjective. It all depends on how the tree is situated. If its creating a blind spot, cut it down.

If the tree isn’t there, what are people going to crash into instead?

BTW those ’statistics’ aren’t commenting on a single thing.