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Resident urges tree removal over utility risk; city stops short of ordering removal
Summary
A State Street resident requested removal of a city oak whose root ball crosses water and gas laterals and argued the tree presents a potential gas-hazard risk. Staff reported no active gas leak and said removing the tree would set a difficult precedent; council asked staff to maintain monitoring and provide options but declined immediate removal.
A lengthy public exchange examined whether the city should remove a large oak on State Street after staff investigation of reported leaks and utilities.
Resident Chris Juden Patel said a water leak was repaired between the meter and the house and that subsequent inspection revealed a gas lateral running beneath the tree’s root ball. "We are now asking for removal of the tree because of that danger that it's posing to my neighbors and myself, my family," Patel said.
City crews said the water leak was fixed and that when crews excavated to investigate they did not find evidence of a city-caused gas leak. Public works staff noted most properties have utility laterals in proximity to trees and warned that ordering removal of sound, mature trees because of a low-probability future leak would create a precedent that could require large-scale removals across the city. Staff suggested alternatives such as root barriers and recommended the gas utility perform targeted leak-detection if the resident requests it.
Council members acknowledged the resident’s concerns but cited precedent and noted the city would need a consistent policy for tree removal where roots interact with utility laterals. The council did not direct immediate removal; staff will respond to the resident about utility-company leak-detection and return with options and guidance for addressing similar situations citywide.
