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City engineer urges larger roadside clearing for safety; council weighs legacy-tree concerns and Xcel line burial
Summary
City Engineer Jupe Hale recommended a safety-oriented roadside clearing standard (16-foot vertical clearance and a 10-foot back width) to assist fire apparatus and reduce liability; NOHOA favors smaller clear zones to preserve legacy trees, and Administrator Kevin Kress urged escalation with Xcel regarding burying overhead lines for storm resilience. Council agreed to review the issue at a July 1 workshop.
City Engineer Jupe Hale presented the road committee’s debate on proposed roadside-clearing standards and urged the council to consider a more safety-focused approach at the June 11 meeting.
Hale said his recommendation would provide 16 feet of vertical clearance and 10 feet of horizontal clearance (a 16-by-10 feet safety envelope) to improve sightlines and to allow fire apparatus to pass without branches catching on trucks. He said adopting consistent safety standards would reduce city liability and better align with fire-department operational needs.
NOHOA has recommended a smaller width that preserves legacy trees; Hale noted that NOHOA will review the recommendation in August and emphasized that his professional license requires him to advise on safety standards. Councilor Mark Azman said he favored a more measured approach (6–8 feet back with 16 feet up) to retain legacy trees while addressing safety concerns, and Mayor Krista Wolter asked that the fire department weigh in on recommended standards.
Administrator Kevin Kress also raised concerns about overhead electrical lines, reporting that Xcel finds maintenance in North Oaks challenging and that the city should press Xcel to consider burying lines. Kress said he would work with the city attorney and North Oaks Company to escalate discussions and that NOHOA President Andrew Hawkins might have a helpful contact.
Council agreed to add the topic to a July 1 council workshop for further review and to gather visuals and recommendations before taking any formal action.
