Evansville Tree Advisory Board approves multiple tree removals, orders brush clearing and 2-for-1 replacements for road projects

The City of Evansville Tree Advisory Board on April 3 voted to clear brush at a hazardous curve, approved replacement planting plans tied to multiple road projects that removed trees, and authorized several street- and park-tree removals.

Board action came after staff and outside project representatives described safety, right-of-way and engineering constraints that led to the tree removals and replacements. Jennifer McBoyle, a city staff member who presented a road safety audit, said, “the horizontal site distance around the curve and the clear zones are not being maintained. And per AASHTO guidelines, that requirement's 10 foot. So in that red hatched area is where we need 10 foot cleared, basically.” The board instructed urban forestry staff to work with city engineering to clear brush back to a 10-foot clear zone and to coordinate with CenterPoint on a utility pole the presenter measured at about 9 feet from the roadway.

Why it matters: the motions were framed as public-safety and project-coordination decisions rather than policy changes. Board members repeatedly emphasized a desire for earlier involvement in project design so trees could be considered before removal decisions were made.

Key votes and decisions

- Brush clearing at Petersburg curve (Brook Road area): The board approved a motion directing urban forestry to work with the city engineering department to push brush back to a 10-foot clear zone around the curve, and to engage CenterPoint about a utility pole located about 9 feet from the road. The board also noted a fence that may be on private property and said the property-owner issue must be…