Report on Tour of City Center with Councilman Owens

Wednesday evening I decided to, let's say, "join" a private meeting of Councilman Owens and members of the Alpharetta Natural Resources Commission to view areas where trees are slated to be axed.  Fortunately for me, I guess, everyone was fine with it.  And that was good, because there are only so many minutes in the day and I needed to get this over with.  

I must say, after 1.5 hours of carefully looking at the drawings of City Center Plan 1, the one that sold you on the bond referendum, and City Center Plan 2, the supposedly better plan that most of you did not see; and after walking the property and looking at the trees themselves....Well, it's much worse than I expected.  

First, let's just get this out of the way: I was rather surprised to actually see the differences in City Center Plan 1 and City Center Plan 2.  This Council has increased the size of the parcels to be sold off.  This sell off thing is really bothering me.  What is this all about?  Does the city need the money?  I'm wondering this because the Director of Engineering Public Works told the ANRC that the changes to the City Center plan are "about finances."  And yet Chris Owens, on our tour last night, stated unequivocably, "The City does not need to sell off these parcels.  We are not doing this because we need the money."  So.....what was Pete Sewczwicz talking about then?  This is extremely important because this increase in the size of the sell off parcels is what has pushed the City Hall directly into Brook Street Park - thus executing all those trees.  

After looking at the City Center plans, we walked around and actually looked at the trees slated to be cut down.  Of course, there are no trees to speak of near present day City Hall except for the large and beautiful old tree at the PAL headquarters (PAL is scheduled to be one of the sell-off parcels). But there are trees at Brook Street Park and behind the Publix shopping center.  The new plan calls for City Hall to be placed right in the Brook Street Park and for the area behind Publix to become a parking deck.  

When you see the trees in person you can't help but to feel a sense of regret. How beautiful Brook Park is with ALL these trees!  How sad to think of losing them. And there is a beautiful, HUGE and healthy old southern red oak behind the Publix that is slated to be taken down so that a parking deck can be built. Sights such as this oak are what inspire people to defend these amazing miracles of nature. 

I hope you will look at the two plans and compare them.  I hope you will go over to Brook Street Park and look at the trees and look at the trees behind the parking lot.  There are many reasons these trees should not be cut down.  These reasons are basic upon science, history, sentimentality, beauty and our well being.   

The picture attached to this blog is of the trees at Brook Street Park at Haynes Bridge and Academy Street.