Residents speak out to protect the Squirrel Road Big Tree, a 300 yr. old natural landmark in Auburn Hills

On Monday, November 10th, 2014, Auburn Hills resident Donald Hughes, representing himself and neighbors, delivered a petition to City Council members with over 350 signatures from other residents of the city and neighboring communities, urging them to protect the Squirrel Road Big Tree. The 300 year old black walnut located on the East side of North Squirrel road, approximately 400 ft. South of Dutton Road, is at risk of getting removed to make room for the Squirrel Road expansion project.

In 2009, when the black walnut was measured by Andrew Sawyer of the Michigan Botanical Club, “it had a girth of 205 inches, a height of 67 feet, and an average crown spread of 83 feet.” It was then awarded the title of “Michigan Big Tree.” When re-measured (unofficially) this year, its girth was 18 ft. or 216 in. That is 10 in. bigger! The Squirrel Road Big Tree is considered a “landmark tree”, as defined by the City of Auburn Hills’ Woodlands Preservation Ordinance, which also states that large trees: “Produce more oxygen than smaller trees; occur with less frequency than smaller trees; are more valuable than smaller trees; offer the community intangible benefits, such as providing a living link between generations; and are, for all intent and purpose, irreplaceable.”

Among the several Auburn Hills residents that spoke out urging the council to preserve the Squirrel Road Big Tree was Anne Doyle, former council member and neighbor to the natural landmark, who said: “This tree is older than the United States of America. It survived the Revolutionary War; it survived the Civil War; and it survived the first paving of Squirrel Road...Take the time before you make an irreversible decision...” Phil Clampitt, another resident who lives near the tree location, closed his speech by saying,“Don’t forget, Auburn Hills is the City of Trees.”

The Squirrel Road expansion project, scheduled for 2015, will not include additional traffic lanes, but will add a center turn lane along Squirrel Road, from Walton to Dutton. The project includes 3 proposals: 1)Three proposed lanes end south of the Big Black Walnut Tree; 2) expansion to the east side, Big Black Walnut Tree removed; and 3) expansion to the west side, Big Black Walnut Tree remains (original design). Neighbors favor the proposal in which the three lanes end south of the Big Tree for several reasons, besides preserving the big black walnut. There is already an existing left turn lane at the intersection between Squirrel and Dutton that blocks neighbors close to the Big Tree from accessing their properties when travelling south bound. These neighbors believe that adding more traffic or extending the center turn lane will aggravate this problem and will not contribute to a better flow of traffic in such intersection.

City staff will make a recommendation to the council regarding the Squirrel Road expansion project and the fate of the Big Tree during the City Council meeting on December 1st, 2014. The public is asked to contact council members prior to the meeting to urge them to protect the Squirrel Road Big Tree. Their contact information can be found at the city’s website (http://www.auburnhills.org/government/mayor_and_council/index.php, select names). They can also send an email to the city clerk Terri Kowal at tkowal@auburnhills.org, Phone: 248-370-9402, Fax: 248-364-6719. Please ask your comments to be forwarded to the city council and included as part of the public record. Residents and non-residents can also speak during the public comment portion of the city council meeting held at 7 PM at the City Council chamber in City Hall. Comments are limited to 3 minutes per person.

The positive response to the petition reaffirms that the Squirrel Road Big Tree is valued by people of Auburn Hills and neighboring communities. Neighbors are looking for a fair public discussion on this matter where their input is taken into consideration. After all, Auburn Hills is indeed a city of trees (it was awarded “Tree City USA” certification by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Arbor Day Foundation in 2013), and the 300 yr. old black walnut is a remarkable natural landmark of which the city should be proud and should ensure its protection.

For more information, residents leading the fight to protect the big black walnut can be contacted at savesquirrelroadbigtree@gmail.com and in facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Save-the-Squirrel-Road-Big-Tree/767386253298522




Photo: Italia Millan