If A City Plants A Forest, Does the Community Make A Sound?

Five residents of the West Riding neighborhood asked the City Council on Monday night to remove the more than 600 recently planted trees and shrubs near their homes.

The City planted them as a buffer to the Londraft Branch creek.

Residents have three main objections: the forest  eliminates an open passive recreation space, that the buffer does nothing to prevent runoff from polluting the creek, and that it creates a safety hazard in the form of tick breeding grounds and hiding places for criminals.

The Gazette reports that the City did additional work to fill in holes that were dug but not planted after officials came out to meet with residents at the new forest.

One resident, Bill Fallon, even offered to cut the Council a $100 check on the spot to help pay for the deforestation.

The Council didn't respond to any of the testimony, but they said it will be a topic of discussion at their Nov. 22 worksession.