Downtown residents urge redesign of Douglas Street plan to save mature trees

Residents of Northeast Douglas Street told the City Council they object to the current design for the Douglas Street reconstruction, which would add a 10-foot shared-use path along the east side of the street. Speakers said the path will require removing mature street trees and could eliminate private driveways.

Mike Carroll, who said he lives on Douglas Street, presented a petition and multiple resident comments from social media describing the boulevard'scale trees as a key element of the street's character. Carroll asked the council to "stop the design" and "take another look" that would preserve trees and minimize property impacts, suggesting the city consult urban-forestry specialists and look at alternative sidewalk alignments.

Resident Steph Hedenkamp asked public works to pause the project and examine adjustments such as setting a shared-use path closer to the roadway (as done on other corridors) so parkway trees can be preserved. Speakers acknowledged a need to improve drainage and curb/utility infrastructure, but said the current right-of-way plan would be "radically changed and in many residents' opinion for the worse" if large trees are removed.

What happens next: Council and staff acknowledged the comments and indicated public-works staff will follow up; residents said they plan to return with additional signatures and ask for further review at a future council meeting.