*

*
Politics Extra
Enquirer reporters give the scoop on what your politicians are doing


Jessica Brown,
Hamilton County reporter


Jon Craig,
Enquirer statehouse bureau


Jane Prendergast,
Cincinnati City Hall reporter


Malia Rulon,
Enquirer Washington bureau


Carl Weiser,
Blog editor


Howard Wilkinson,
politics reporter

Powered by Blogger

Thursday, September 20, 2007

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.


9 Comments:

at 10:25 AM, September 20, 2007 Anonymous Anonymous said...

This is analogous to housing in Cincinnati. In the name of progress we get something like a credit union building and a hundred year old house/tree gets torn down. In the case of housing, an empty, grass overgrown, and littered lot results in most cases. Can't we find existing structures these businesses can occupy? Why do they always need to be new? I know Emery Fed. Credit Union uses a building at Vine and Springrove.

 
at 10:49 AM, September 20, 2007 Anonymous Anonymous said...

.
It is about time our leaders take a stand and protect the environment !

Why destroy 100 years of life when a Kroger Credit Union can put an office in any abandoned store-front ?

There certainly are plenty of them !

Now, let's count the 100 year old trees that turn carbon dioxide into oxygen so, we mere humans, can breath !

Why is the Union not standing against this ?

Hey, why doesn't KEMBA rent a store-front in OTR and use that building development funds to lend to those whom want to improve the city ?

HAD ENOUGH, VOTE DEMOCRAT 2007 !

 
at 11:22 AM, September 20, 2007 Anonymous Anonymous said...

thank goodness we have portune doing the important things

 
at 2:34 PM, September 20, 2007 Anonymous Anonymous said...

Todd would bend over backwards to save a tree but would sell an unborn baby down the river in a second.

 
at 2:42 PM, September 20, 2007 Anonymous Anonymous said...

HAD ENOUGH, VOTE DEMOCRAT 2007 !

Ummmm.... isn't Portune a Democrat?

 
at 5:07 PM, September 20, 2007 Anonymous Anonymous said...

.
"HAD ENOUGH, VOTE DEMOCRAT 2007 ! Ummmm.... isn't Portune a Democrat? 2:42 PM, September 20, 2007"

Absolutely !

What is your wRong wingnut whacko point ?

When he became president, Portune was the best thing to ever happen to the commission, PERIOD !

Now, take that 'foot-tapping, goose-stepping, 'schmidt' back to kissing 'finney's fanny' !

We will no longer allow the cronies to 'coast' through life !

PATHETIC HypocRites !

HAD ENOUGH, VOTE DEMOCRAT 2008 !

 
at 9:30 PM, September 20, 2007 Anonymous Anonymous said...

huh?

 
at 12:55 AM, September 21, 2007 Anonymous Anonymous said...

One by one, tree by tree, creek by creek - we are becoming a concrete community where children will think squat ornamental trees are the heights of grandeur, where shades of leaves are left behind for that of walls, where field trips to the zoo will include displays roped off for viewing,...

A concrete community is replacing nature all over the county - and all it takes to preserve it is caring for one tree at a time.

Good job Portune.

From Concrete Colerain

 
at 12:57 AM, September 21, 2007 Anonymous Anonymous said...

I couldn't agree more - with the spread of "blight" let's tax the heck out of new development, mandate sidewalks and greenscapes or the alternative, re-invest in older properties and save the money.

 
Post a Comment*

* Our online blogs currently are hosted and operated by a third party, namely, Blogger.com. You are now leaving the Cincinnati.Com website and will be linked to Blogger.com's registration page. The Blogger.com site and its associated services are not controlled by Cincinnati.Com and different terms of use and privacy policy will apply to your use of the Blogger.com site and services.

By proceeding and/or registering with Blogger.com you agree and understand that Cincinnati.Com is not responsible for the Blogger.com site you are about to access or for any service you may use while on the Blogger.com site.

<< Home


Blogs
Jim Borgman
Today at the Forum
Paul Daugherty
Politics Extra
N. Ky. Politics
Pop culture review
Cincytainment
Who's News
Television
Roller Derby Diva
Art
CinStages Buzz....
The Foodie Report
cincyMOMS
Classical music
John Fay's Reds Insider
Bengals
High school sports
NCAA
UC Sports
CiN Weekly staff
Soundcheck