A developer is clearing ALL the natural vegetation on about 3 acres near me. This included at least 70+ mature trees of all sizes. It was one of the few beautiful nature corridors in our area. Plans are to fill the valley , culvert much of a natural drainage stream, and make it look like all the other suburban farmland developments – except it isn’t. There are no local laws that require replacing trees.
I walked there early this morning, and swear I could hear the animals cry. Four deer just stood and looked at me. A fox & coyote scrambled through the debris.
It didn’t have to be that way. There were alternatives.
I started to post in the “say it here” thread but wanted to cry with someone.
Ahhhhh! I hate that. Wouldn’t you think the new home buyers would love some gorgeous mature trees?
We live in an area with huge natural trees, one new home builder down the street cut down a dozen nice old trees and then replanted small new trees. Crazy.
There is a housing development nearby that is developed in sections, most of the sections have about 20’ natural vegetation between the house lots and the road, it’s great driving by as it feels so much more natural. One new section somehow got 10’ instead of 20’ corridors approved. It stinks.
Only if it’s an actual wetland, then the Army Corps of Engineers would have permitting requirements (assuming it’s the same as when I interned with them). If they’re bulldozing and knocking down trees, it’s probably not wetlands. And any semi-competent developer would know/have the right permits before starting.
We have the same going on near me. My property backs to a farm - I used to dump my grass clippings over the barbed wire fence for the cows to eat. They’ve been gone for a few years and I’m pretty sure the farmer has retired. I feel fortunate that it’s even lasted this long that a big housing plan hasn’t gone up.
Fortunately, our Township Board of Supervisors is getting much more pushback on rezoning efforts than they have in the past.
(Generation test: Joni Mitchell, Counting Crows, or “huh?”)
If they are truly culverting a stream, then it should be regulated either by your state or by the US EPA, typically regulated by US Army Corps permit. The definition of waters of the US and whether associated wetlands are regulated was changed by the previous administration to reduce the regulated areas. It really depends on whether the “water” is an unregulated ditch or a water of the US.
It is unfortunate that your town/county/state does not have any rules about clearing. Developers will typically clear all the trees for ease of construction unless required to preserve, replace or pay for the trees removed.
Joni, the original, of course. Don’t it always seem to go, that you don’t know what you got 'till its gone…
First, thanks for the earworm They were doing this in our town just outside of Charlotte. They couldn’t build houses quickly enough; they’re clearing areas like you mention and putting in neighborhoods of 1,000-3,000 homes each. They had green % requirements, but they accomplished that by clear cutting and planting cheap Bradford pears and ornamental cherries NOT by keeping the aged trees (thankfully, the Bradfords are now being banned in some states). The traffic was getting a lot like our commute up north, so we finally gave up and moved to a much more rural area. It just reinforces how important the local elected/appointed positions are for sensibly planned development.
I am also one who feels I can hear the animals cry. I know I’m singing to the choir here, but for anyone who hasn’t read them, I recommend the books -Bringing Nature Home- and Nature’s Best Hope: A New Approach to Conservation That Starts in Your Yard, by Douglas Tallamy. Over the years I have turned my yard over to mostly native trees and flowers (indulging in some classic non-native annuals In porch pots that the hummingbirds do like). My yard is tiny and I often feel that is the only place in the world I have influence over so I try to make it count. Just about my biggest daily pleasure these days is seeing the birds, bees, butterflies and occasional wildlife in the yard. I often fantasize about taking over a vast swath of my neighbor’s sterile manicured lawn and add it to my tiny island refuge. Sigh.
If you live in the East (upper South, Appalachians or Mid-Atlantic, I recommend my old friends’ native plant nursery, Woodthrush Native Nursery, https://woodthrushnatives.com located near Floyd, Virginia. They travel on weekends as far as the Philadelphia area to plant sales (or they did before the pandemic) and also do mail-order. Highly ethical…all their plants are from seed ethically gathered…they never take plants from the wild.
Yep; residents in our area can actually get 5 free young native trees from Clemson University in exchange for one Bradford pear. It’s a long arduous process, but it’s a step forward in education of invasive species.
Midwest small town subdivision. No wetland designations. Guessing just an “unregulated ditch”. The topography sloped over 50’ across the property from high to low point. I’m estimating the “ditch” was about a 20’ or more drop in portions (maybe 20-30% slope). Not really just a ditch, but rather a wooded sloped ravine.
The surrounding municipalities are concerned about how and where water flows into their local rivers, but appear to have no local jurisdiction. With proper engineering the water will flow the same direction, but a significant portion buried in a culvert.
Some neighbors tried to alter the course of such radical destruction, and offered alternative scenarios to consider, but so many of them believe property rights trump everything, so were unwilling to take a stand.
Local city keeps assuring neighborhood that all plans need to be approved by local geotechnical engineers, but since no permits are required for clearing, it is too late even if they do require changes.
I know some of the more “liberal” communities (ahem…Seattle? Portland?) are a PIA regarding regulation, but at this point, I only wish!
I’m in the NYC suburbs and around here 100 feet within any kind of stream raises red flags. Trees over a certain diameter can’t be removed without permission. I’m always running into clients who are outraged that they can’t do what they want, but most regulations really do make things nicer for everyone.
Apart from our kids who want to buy a house and are being priced out by a lack of construction. Maybe not such a problem in the midwest but here in CA the NIMBY alliance of socialists (who believe all new housing must be priced below market rates or it’s “gentrification”) and conservatives (who love to have low property taxes and ever increasing housing wealth because of the supply shortage) the situation is truly disastrous.
As an example, 20 foot setbacks instead of 10 foot setbacks may look nice, but increase the price of the house and contribute to urban sprawl, traffic congestion, inefficient public transit and ultimately global warming.
Just near us, a 3 acre parcel was recently subdivided. After protests about the idea of townhouses on the lot, the plans were revised and we now have 9 houses of 4000-5000 sq ft, each costing $4M-$5M. How does that help?
They were doing this in our town just outside of Charlotte. They couldn’t build houses quickly enough; they’re clearing areas like you mention and putting in neighborhoods of 1,000-3,000 homes each. They had green % requirements, but they accomplished that by clear cutting and planting cheap Bradford pears and ornamental cherries NOT by keeping the aged trees (thankfully, the Bradfords are now being banned in some states). The traffic was getting a lot like our commute up north, so we finally gave up and moved to a much more rural area. It just reinforces how important the local elected/appointed positions are for sensibly planned development.