Lehi residents balk at plan to cut down more than 300 trees from neighborhood

LEHI — More than 300 trees are set to get the ax in Lehi's Olympic Park neighborhood, after the City Council approved a proposal to remove all trees from city-owned park strips in the neighborhood.

Some of the trees — many of which were planted decades ago — have lifted the sidewalk by 3 or 4 inches in places, creating liability for the city, according to Lehi City Council members.

But some residents say they are concerned that the decision to cut down 317 trees is too broad and was made without any notice or input from homeowners.

Jordan Jensen, 35, who has lived in the neighborhood for four years, said he only heard about the proposal in a neighborhood Facebook group.

"Essentially, I was notified that the City Council basically met at the end of July to discuss possible solutions for them having to do maintenance on their own bloody trees," he said. "And rather than do any sort of preventative anything, they're being very reactionary. They've decided that rather than only address certain trees that have issues ... they're going to be grinding down over 300 trees in our neighborhood alone."

Anne-Marie Mickelsen, 45, shares Jensen's concerns.

"I get the liability thing and it's their property," she said, but they made this decision in isolation, I feel like, and it just seems very drastic."

Council members acknowledged that the plan is imperfect while discussing it in July, and Councilman Paul Hancock proposed a piecemeal approach to avoid having to rip out every tree at once.

"My concern is the neighborhood's going to look naked," Hancock said. "I drive through there now and it just feels lush, you know, it's a really cool feel. I wonder if there's some sort of hybrid where you do half of it now ... identify those trees that are really the problem trees, so that the neighborhood doesn't just get scorched-earth overnight."

Ultimately, the council determined it would be cheaper to do it all in one fell swoop, rather than address individual trees as they become hazardous.

The project has an estimated cost of $80,000 for tree and stump removal, plus $40,000 to repair concrete. Each household will receive a $200 reimbursement to plant new trees in their yards, regardless of how many trees are removed from the park strips in front of their property.

Mickelsen and Jensen both said the amount is paltry compared to the cost of planting young trees, which won't provide the same amount of shade or beauty for decades. They also worry that tree removal will raise their cooling costs and lower the value of their properties.

Having large trees — like those that line the streets of Olympic Park — in yards can increase a home's value between 3% and 15%, according to a 2007 study. Residents worry that the city's plan could likewise decrease their property value, even if they plant trees of their own.

"I'm not a tree-hugger by any means, but I'm not OK with the city making an arbitrary decision that will tank the value of my home," Jensen said. "If they want to give me $20,000 to cut down the trees, sure, but $200 won't cut it."

Jensen said he thinks the city's decision is hypocritical, given that Lehi has been recognized by the Arbor Day Foundation's Tree City U.S.A. initiative and received the organization's Growth Award.

Several neighborhood residents attended the City Council meeting on Tuesday night to air their grievances to the council and mayor. The topic wasn't on the agenda, but the council promised to put the removal on hold pending further discussion with the community.

"We have a responsibility to uphold the safety of our communities, so that is a strong consideration," Lehi Mayor Mark Johnson said in response.

On Wednesday, Lehi City Councilman Mike Southwick told KSL.com he is open to exploring other options, but said the city has to consider its own liability before addressing the potential impact their decision will have on property values. The council hasn't set a date for a public hearing on the issue, he added.

A city spokesman told KSL.com via email that "streets and parks superintendents will meet with each homeowner in the neighborhood to have a private consultation regarding the tree in front of their home. ... Each circumstance may be different, so we feel meeting with the homeowners one-on-one will provide better clarity and help address specific questions regarding their property."

Jensen said it is "disappointing" that the council hasn't set a specific time to hear from the general public, but he is optimistic about pursuing a compromise. He plans to do more outreach of his own, to make sure that his neighbors aren't caught flat-footed "when someone shows up on their porch to cut down their tree."

"If you had the opportunity that a legislative body was going to impact your property value by 15%, do you think you'd be on board for that?" he asked. "And shame on me for thinking they wouldn't make this type of direct drastic decision without our input. It's idiotic."

Related topics