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Macon, Ga Trees Marked
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Forest Hill Road - return to Homepage
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Macon, Ga Trees Marked
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| Posted on Thu, Oct.
19, 2006 page 1A http://www.macon.com/mld/macon/15792857.htm Some trees on Forest Hill Road living on borrowed time Residents worry cutting for widening will go too far By Travis Fain TELEGRAPH STAFF WRITER For the past several weeks, survey crews have been marking trees along Forest Hill Road, scheduled for a major widening in the next couple of years.  Residents have expressed concerns that the widening project will change the character of the road and that too many trees will be lost. "The trees are marked almost up to my front door," said Alice Boyd, who lives in the 500 block of Forest Hill Road. "(They marked) everything within a 77-foot radius of the median." More than 2,000 trees have been marked, but that doesn't mean they all will be cut down, said Tim Lake, whose company is handling the landscaping along the project. "We know that some of those are going to have to come out," Lake said Wednesday. "Don't have any idea how many yet."  People are being urged not to remove the flags marking the trees, because "that's how we know which (tree) is which," he said. It could be December before planners know which trees will come down to make way for the planned three- and four-lane sections of the road, new sidewalks and new power lines planned between Vineville Avenue and Northside Drive, Lake said. In the meantime, Lake said he and other planners are cataloging the trees and taking inventory of what's in the project's right-of-way. Boyd and others along the road continue to feel the new Forest Hill Road will be overbuilt - particularly considering that Vineville Avenue, which connects to Forest Hill Road, allows only one lane of traffic to turn off the road for much of the day. "Where is the traffic going?" Boyd asked. But planners have said repeatedly that expected traffic increases along Forest Hill Road necessitate the widening. Several attempts to force a redesign have failed, and the project is moving forward. Land is being appraised now and rights-of-way purchases needed for the project will be negotiated soon, said Van Etheridge. Etheridge manages Bibb County's sales-tax financed roads improvement program for Moreland Altobelli, a private engineering firm paid to run the county's program. Construction is slated to begin sometime next year, according to the project schedule. Etheridge, who came out of retirement to manage the roads program after engineer Joe Wood left Moreland Altobelli, promised that road crews will "only clear what we need" along Forest Hill Road. "Any tree that can be left will be left," Etheridge said. "Plus, we're going to plant a lot back out there. All kinds." Many along the road are happy with the trees they have now. "Please ... let us keep our trees," Boyd said. Troy Edwards, who lives in the 600 block of the road, said he's more concerned about the overall project than he is with the trees. Like others, he said he fears the widening will worsen the road's problem with speeders. "The whole thing, I think, is just a disaster for this area," he said. To contact Travis Fain, call 744-4213. |
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| 10/16/2006
: To All Honorable People of Concern, My name is Ronald A. Haynes; a resident of Central Georgia; Bibb County and the city of Macon. In reply to this note concerning the marking of trees along Forest Hill and Wimbish Roads, as concerned citizens we cannot be too careful with this critical situation. The irresponsible ones who are in charge of the tree marking/road project will lie "like a dog", then actually do differently or whatever they desire to do. I do not even live on Forest Hill nor Wimbish Roads. But I have great concerns about cutting well established trees and disrupting the beautiful, natural woodland growth and wildlife habitat that makes Forest Hill Road one of the most scenic and beautiful drives along any roadway within all cities throughout the Southeastern United States. According to the National Arbor Foundation, Macon and Bibb County is supposed to be one of many "Tree Cities" throughout the United States and other continents; however, I feel that this recognition needs urgent re-evaluation. Now, back to the tree marking. I suggest that video and still pictures be made along both road- sides of both roadway areas where any cutting or change is to be made for this roadway project. In addition, I feel as if all live trees and bush growth should be marked. Different colors should be utilized. One color marking all trees, shrubs, and growth that need to stay in place and a different color marking the selective faulted trees, shrubs and growth that will be trimmed or cut. The videos and still pictures should vividly show all marked and non-marked natural growth as it exist before any change takes place. Once a beautiful tree or natural growth has been cut and uprooted, there is no real proof that any fault actually occurred. With picture documentation, someone can be held responsible for all actions irresponsibably taken. In addition, all information should be advertised through news lines, making public data, and embedded within the thoughts and minds of all Macon-Bibb County citizens - especially the folks living along Forest Hill and Wimbish Roads. This should be accomplished beforehand. I could reply with a great deal more; but will stop at this point for now. Macon-Bibb County Citizens and Residents; this is your habitat, land, city, county, and all beautiful environment. Therefore, take control with positive, responsible actions. Lets stop sitting idle and being pushed around by the few that feel they have power to do as they see fit without representing the majority of the citizens who elected them to office for responsible representation. This is Our City, Our County. We should keep our environment beautiful, natural; so that, we have a great deal of enthusiasm, and feel very proud with living in this great City and County of Georgia. Sincerely, RAH From: Holliday Dental <teeth@mindspring.com> To: "Sherrie Sawyer" <ssawyer@co.bibb.ga.us> CC: Kenneth Sheets <ksheets@co.bibb.ga.us>,"Sam Hart" <hart_sf@mercer.edu>, bbivins@co.bibb.ga.us,shart@co.bibb.ga.us, Subject: FOI request for RIP - explanation of trees marked Date: Mon, 16 Oct 2006 16:30:04 -0400 http://www.co.bibb.ga.us/engineering/engineering.asp 621-6660 Ms Sawyer, I am requesting (for a number of citizens) an explanation of the marking of trees along Forest Hill Road and Wimbish Road. I spoke with Van Etheridge today after a Houston Ave meeting at Unionville Baptist Church. He was elusive when I told him that several residents wanted to come to his office to review why so many more trees were marked than were to be cut. Van said "The marked trees are Not for the road, that's for the Landscaping". I told him that we still wanted to meet with him, but he would not give me a time. Additionally, someone at Moreland Altobelli (755-0000) told a citizen today that Wimbish Road will not be widened at Forest Hill Rd (?) Who in the road program is able to clarify this situation for the citizens? Thank-you, - Lindsay BCs - CAUTION Macon |
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