Plan to Remove 65 Trees at City Center a Well Kept Secret

I went to a Natural Resources Commission (or NRC) meeting last night to hear discussion about this business of City Council deciding to take out 65 trees at the new, new City Center.  Turns out, not only were citizens like me not informed about the removal of these 65 trees, but also, the NRC was not informed about the removal of these 65 trees!  This seems rather odd, since this Commission is vested by Alpharetta's Unified Development Code with the task of overseeing the Tree Ordinance and advising Council with regard to trees.  You'd think that at the very least, the Department Head of Engineering Public Works, under whose oversight the Tree Ordinance is enforced and all exceptions to it, would have informed them of this drastic tree removal plan. 

I'm just so disappointed in this Council for their bad judgment in not seeing the opportunity to be forward and progressive by making mature trees centerpieces of life in Alpharetta – even at new, new City Center.  I'm disappointed with their treatment of these fine people who serve on this Natural Resources Commission. And although this Council has released a statement that they intend to discuss this tree situation at their August 6th City Council meeting, I am just hoping we will not hear more flaccid, patronizing responses to this outcry.