The clear-cutting of trees on Estes Drive continues to draw concern from Chapel Hillians.
The property near Phillips Middle School is the future site of a retirement residence community. The developer has drawn the attention of neighbors by clear-cutting trees from the property and conducting rock blasting, which some residents fear will have a negative impact on their homes.
Chapel Hill Mayor Pam Hemminger said she understands the concerns of the neighbors.
“It’s just really heartbreaking,” Hemminger said, “because we love our trees here. They provide great kinds of amenities for us, and they help our environment. But we also just love them and so it’s really sad to see them when they come down like that.
“We haven’t experienced a clearing like that in a long time.”
But, Hemminger said, the developer is within their rights so far – although they will be required to replant trees to meet the town’s ordinance.
“They are required to have a certain number of trees at a certain caliper put back for tree canopy coverage,” Hemminger said. “This particular contractor apparently decided he would rather take it all out and put in new, good-size caliper.
“That’s now how most of our developers have chosen to do sites.”
Concerns from neighbors extended beyond the tree clearing to notices that blasting would be occurring.
“If you didn’t get the tree phone call, you got the blasting phone call,” Hemminger said.
The mayor said there are several sites around town where developers are blasting rock to create a developable environment.
“Most of the developable properties left in Chapel Hill now are the ones that were harder to develop in the past,” Hemminger said. “And they’re in some tricky places; they have interesting topography.”
Hemminger also warned that some other property owners in the area will be conducting operations cutting some other trees in the area due to a pest infestation harming the trees.
The retirement residence proposal is scheduled to have 152 units with construction set to begin by March 20, 2019 and concluding two years later.
What is considered a “good size caliper?” Why is the developer within his rights to reduce the canopy guaranteed in the contract with no notice to the residents? How were the town officials and staff informed of the change, and why did they approve it? The damage is done, and new plantings will be neglected by the developer as soon as the buildings go up, if not before. Within a year of being planted, most of those new trees will probably be dead. Will the town come in with some more trees with a “good size caliper” and some undertree plantings to create a desirable landscape? Or will the town sit back and whine that it is the responsibility of the developer or the owner of the facility? This is not only “heartbreaking” because we “love our trees,” but it is devastating to the residents of the surrounding neighborhoods who now see an ugly blight on the entry to our area, no doubt with long-term consequences to our property values. And remember, this land was zoned for single family residences, but apparently zoning doesn’t mean a thing in Chapel Hill, where a developer has only to seek and he will find whatever his little heart desires.
Also, the tree protection ordinance spells out exactly what minimum size must be met. 2.5 inch calipher.
Yeah!! Single family housing is so great for the environment and affordable housing!! How could they use this land for something for our rapidly aging population?! Terrible!!
Chapel hill has absolutely lost all of its charm it makes me sick to my stomach to drive anywhere in chapel hill anymore. As a local I don’t even recognize the town I was so proud to have grown up in our city planners city council and whoever else is in charge of letting all these horrible ugly developers into our beautiful natural “ buy local” earth loving town. (my ass) Dunkin’ Donuts and chopped wtf …. I would like chapel hill to rezone my residence to carrboro please.
Feel free to move to there any time you like. Life is about choice.
Chapel Hill was once known for requiring setbacks and natural vegetation buffers with developments. (Chapel Hill North shopping center for example) Yet now, the trend is clear cutting with no-setbacks with structures right up on the street. (Berkshire complex for example). The landscape and aesthetics of Chapel Hill has changed and it’s yet to be determined if it is for the better. For us long-time residents, the change is certainly jarring.
Additionally, I wish more consideration would be given to wildlife assessment and impact mitigation, such as the timing of tree clearing. There is a great number of wildlife displacements occurring now from clear-cutting around town at a time of year when animals and birds are nesting and denning. I think many people would be surprised how much wildlife we have in an urban setting. These will surely be driven more into the surrounding neighborhoods, where man/animal conflicts can arise (depending on the species).
I agree with you 100%
Clear cut done in early April for construction to commence in March 2019. There must be more to this story, I hope.
It is time to vote the current town council and mayor out and vote for people who will restrict development in Chapel Hill…..other recent clear cutting has taken place on Homestead not very far from the Seymour Senior Center
That’s already been done.
If you want real change then ban the mayor and town council from receiving campaign contributions from developers.
NIMBY: NOT IN MY BACKYARD. Many of the people complaining only need to look in their own yard to see that their house and neighborhood is sitting on land that was once forested and at some point , many, if not all trees were likely cut to provide a spot for their home. Something to think about.
Spot on. Cut down the trees for Whole foods or Trader Joe’s or Social housing, as long as it isn’t near me.
When y’all want a southern village, or a Trader Joe’s or a Whole foods you’re fine cutting down the trees and blasting.
But when it is next door to you or on your daily drive it’s a terrible thing!
NIMBY. Not in my back yard.
But down the road next to someone else so I have a Whole foods is just fine!
Hipocritical.