Portune tries to save tree-UPDATED

UPDATE:Commissioners Monday took action that allows the tree to be saved, but only if the homeowner is willing to pay for it.

Said Commissioner Todd Portune: "I’d be open to adding the preservation of the tree as a 15th condition, but the cost of preserving a tree should be the owners’ responsibility."

Said Commissioner David Pepper: (to tree owner)"If I was in your position I'd do exactly what you're doing. I don’t want these neighbors to come back to us in a few months and say 'I told you so' and we hadn’t done everything we could do."

Said Commissioner Pat DeWine: "I think we all are concerned about the tree. I don’t think it's our place to overturn the (zoning) decision by Green Township. If there is something we can work in that’s reasonable, I think we should do that."

So commissioners added conditions that:1) require there be no construction, grading or impact on the area within the tree's canopy (developers agreed to fence off that area) and 2) During construction the homeowners may hire arborists to "engage in root protection activities." But the homeowners must pay for this.

During the hearing, tree-owner Bridget Reynolds Davis said she consulted three arborists last week who said protecting just the canopy area won't ensure the tree's survival and that "other measures are quite costly" The arborists looked not only at her 100-year-old Silver Maple, but also at a big Norway Spruce belonging to a neighbor (she brought photos of both.)
A landscaping specialist hired by the developer (they said they couldn't get any arborists on such short notice) said if no grading is done near the canopy, the tree has a good chance of surviving.

The homeowners said loss of the trees would hurt their property values, especially now that a credit union is in their back yard. One neighbor (who doesn't have a tree in the fight) urged commissioners to block Kemba completely because there are better spots for it to locate.

It is unclear whether the homeowners will indeed pay for those "root protection activities" or how much they would cost.

All this follows this meeting last week:
Hamilton County Commissoner Todd Portune stepped in Wednesday on behalf of a Green Township resident and her "irreplaceable" tree.

At the County Commmission meeting, Bridget Reynolds Davis asked Portune to look at a photo of a tree in her backyard.

It was apparently a beautiful tree. (Sorry we don't have a copy of the photo.)

Portune was apparently impressed. He looked thoughtfully at the photograph. He commented on the massive 100-year-old tree. And then he acted.

Because of that tree, Portune voted to delay approving a zone change that would have allowed a Kemba Credit Union to be built behind Davis' house. You see, the old tree's roots spread onto the Kemba property. Although Kemba will try to minimize damage to the tree, "We can’t guarantee that every root of the tree would be saved," the developer explained. He technically doesn't have to save the roots, but Kemba wants to be a good neighbor.

And Portune wants to be a good representative for his constituents. And their property, including their trees.

"I’m taking special interest in this because it is a unique situation and that’s just a tremendous asset. I want to make sure we protect that," Portune said.

So he ordered the hearing held until Monday so the resident and developer can hire arborists to assess the tree's situation.

The developer looked frustrated, but didn't let on. (This has been a contentious, long, drawn-out project and Kemba is supposed to close on the property next week).

Davis was thankful. The tree probably is too.