Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Works topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Resident urges action on invasive trees, overpass safety and missing sidewalks near Rosedale
Summary
Rosedale resident Sean Devoy told the Board of Public Works the pedestrian overpass and nearby corridors have invasive trees, vegetation encroaching on fencing and a lack of safe sidewalks connecting neighborhoods; staff said the urban forestry advisory board and parks staff will follow up.
Sean Devoy, a resident of 1310 East Sycamore Street in Rosedale South, used the public-comment period to press the board for action on vegetation and pedestrian-connection problems in the Lloyd Expressway corridor.
Devoy described multiple concerns: trees and other nonnative invasive growth that now reach into traffic near Weinbach and Bakke; bamboo encroaching near Harrison High School that threatens pavement; and a lack of continuous, modern sidewalks linking the pedestrian overpass near Walnut and the newer overpass near Washington and U.S. 41. He said the pedestrian route is hazardous for students and others and requested the city take steps to improve connectivity and address overgrown vegetation.
Devoy also flagged a mature Ailanthus altissima ("tree of heaven") adjacent to Oak Hill Cemetery that he said is casting seeds into the road and should be removed because of its invasive character and potential to damage cemetery walls. Board staff said the city's urban forestry advisory board usually advises on tree removals and that some trees within Oak Hill Cemetery were already scheduled for removal; they said they would follow up and pass the concern on to appropriate departments.
The board noted jurisdictional complexities for trees on state highway property versus city-maintained greenway areas and said staff would identify the responsible agencies and return with recommendations.
