Northfield Council to Staff: Tell Property Owners Now About Potential Tree Impacts

The sent a clear message to staff Tuesday night: Tell property owners now—not later—that their trees could be impacted by street construction.

In approving the list of street and infrastructure projects up for construction next year, councilors said getting the word out about potential tree losses now—while the projects are in the planning stage—is a priority.

“When people have a road to be done, they want to know how much it’s going to cost and what trees are going to be removed,” said Councilor Patrick Ganey during Tuesday’s meeting. “So, it is imperative trees are marked early.”

City engineer Brian Erickson said he and his staff have received the message “loud and clear.”

The goal of dealing with potential tree losses now is to avoid potential conflicts later, such as what occurred along this past spring.

The effort to identify trees in the path of potential street construction already has begun, Erickson said. City staff, as well as a forester, are out in project areas mapping out what vegetation might be impacted.

Councilor Erica Zweifel asked that the mapping effort include properties with fences and gardens, so property owners can learn of those potential impacts early, as well.

Nearly $3.9 million in construction projects took their first step toward becoming reality with Tuesday’s council vote. Projects include rebuilding Division Street between Eighth and Woodley streets; making a variety of repairs to several more streets, mainly north of and west of ; cleaning the pond at ; and building sidewalks and trails called for in the city’s Safe Routes to School and Open Space and Trail System plans.

Project funding would come from a variety of city accounts, as well as assessments to property owners.

But before any dirt is turned, the projects will be subjected to a series of meetings and governmental approvals. The next step comes Oct. 4, when the council will be asked to order a feasibility report. Neighborhood meetings would then be conducted later in October.

Construction would begin next spring.

While next year’s project list is a lengthly one, Councilor Rhonda Pownell said one area is being neglected. She said streets west of Division Street and north of Woodley are in dire need of repair, and no major projects are planned in the near future.

“They [residents in that area] deserve to have their roads repaired just as much as people in others parts of the city do,” she said.

Pownell asked Erickson to study why streets in that area have been pushed out on the city’s road construction schedule.