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http:// --> Ashland, Oregon HOME Valley & State Sports Nation & World Opinion/Editorial Classifieds Business Columnists Obituaries Weather Archive Hot Topics Forum Photo Gallery Past Readers Polls Revels Etcetera Backpage O-Zone Special Sections Real Estate Guide Menu Guide Shakespeare Subscribe Contact Us Rate Card Place an Ad Online Games Movie Preview October 18, 2006 Post office trees not protected by local law By Robert Plain Ashland Daily Tidings Trees on U.S. Postal Service property on Lithia Way are subject to less city protection than other Ashland trees. Ashland's tree protection ordinance doesn't apply to the post office because, "in sum, federal law will control over conflicting state or local laws," according to a memo from Richard Appicello, Ashland's assistant city attorney. Appicello issued the memo after Ashland Tree Commissioner Bryan Holley brought the issue to the city planning department. Holley thought the post office should have gone through the same land-use process that any other property in the city would have. "If it weren't federal land they would have had to be a land-use hearing," he said. "They might still have been able to remove the trees, but the difference is it would have been subject to the tree protection ordinance." A fourth tree was not taken out because it is located in the public right of way. Holley said if the post office would have gone through the land use process, that tree could have been protected through the construction process. Instead, he said, construction equipment was stored near the tree, which he said could have effects on the tree's health. "If we had taken normal tree protection measures, tree protection fencing would have been required around that tree," Holley said. "We could have found an alternative place to store that equipment." Don Graham, Ashland's postmaster, said he didn't bring the project to the tree commission because he was told he didn't have to. "I did contact the city and was told to file for an exemption," he said. But, he added, if he had to do it over again, he would ask the city for their opinion. "It's important to take in everyone's emotional feelings about this," Graham said. "We ... would have gone through the system, even though we don't have to." The trees, female liquid Ambers — which drop a ping-pong ball sized seed pod in the fall — should have been removed because they were a safety hazard, Graham said. "I've had elderly people fall on those [seed pods]," he said. The liquid Ambers, which are not a designated street tree, were removed to make room for staging used to replace the stone facade of the post office, Graham said. He said the trees will be replaced, but still doesn't know what variety they will plant. "I anticipate it is going to look very nice," he said. Holley, who said some Ashlanders are very fond of the liquid Ambers because of their "brilliant scarlet [color] in the fall, added, "People forget that it might take 25 years for that landscaping to look so good again." Staff writer Robert Plain can be reached at 482-3456 x. 226 or [email protected] Current Comments: Robert Plain: You're kidding right? This is tree hugging at it's extreme. They're going to beautify the downtown with the improvements they are making and then they'll plant new trees. Sounds great. Steve L. Iverson - Ashland, Jefferson - October 19th, 10:17 AM And all this while I thought that Crape Myrtles were removed, not Liquid Ambers. Donna D. - Ashland OR - October 19th, 11:26 AM Leave a Comment: Advertisement: Advertisement: Paid Advertising Inkjet Printers Student Loans Water Filter Helzberg Diamonds Mortgage Calculator Security Systems Advertisement: Copyright © 2006 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers. All Rights Reserved.