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Citizen's campaign might save old trees Photo by Bob Pennell Nancy Salucci of Phoenix let her yard signs express her dismay over a proposed sidewalk plan in her Fourth Street neighborhood that would take out old trees. Phoenix schedules public hearing in response By WENDY SIPOREN PHOENIX -- Responding to the concerns of tree-loving neighbors, the city is scaling back a sidewalk project on Fourth Street in an attempt to save a dozen significant trees that line the busy street leading to the elementary school. "It looks like the city fathers 70-80 years ago planted the trees in a line," said Nancy Salucci, who is spearheading the campaign to save the black walnuts, redwoods, oaks, black cottonwoods and elm. "Without the trees it would be hotter and drier and dustier." Since she first heard about the city's sidewalk project two weeks ago, Salucci has put up "save the trees" signs and petitioned neighbors and passers-by to join in her effort. So far she's convinced 50 people of the need to protect the trees. They made enough noise that the city scheduled an informational meeting and public hearing at 7:30 p.m. Monday at City Hall to hear people's concerns. "Everyone has agreed that sidewalks are necessary," said Lisa Brown, another Fourth Street resident. "We're asking for two to three feet leeway so we can continue to have a nice, comfortable, beautiful street." Initial plans called for the city to build a 24-foot street with 6-foot bicycle lanes and 6-foot sidewalks on both sides of Fourth Street from Highway 99 to the railroad tracks. White paint lines marking the proposed location of the sidewalk split the large trees in two. The new plans -- which call for a 21-foot street with 5-foot bicycle lanes and five-foot sidewalks -- should leave enough room to accommodate the towering giants. If not, public works director Jim Wear says the city could also make cut-outs in the sidewalk around the trees. "I think we'll be able to save most of them," said Wear, who also makes his home on Fourth Street. When the city received the $361,612 federal transportation enhancement grant to install storm drains, sidewalks and bicycle lanes in April, Wear said he never guessed it would prove controversial. The city has a 60-foot right-of-way, but over the years, fences, telephone poles, plants and trees have grown up between the houses and the road, which provides access to Houston Road out of town. "One of the problems is when you try to retrofit an urban street from what has been a rural road," said Wear. While national standards call for wider streets and sidewalks, Wear said the city's new transportation system plan adopted last week makes allowances for situations like the one on Fourth Street in the city's historic area. Even so, some telephone poles will have to be moved closer to houses and informal parking spots will disappear. Salucci isn't quite resigned to the fact that she will probably lose several feet of her carefully landscaped yard. Over the past one and a half years, she's made a huge investment in time and money to transform the former drug house into the cute cottage it is today. But more important, she says, she doesn't want her street to look like a new subdivision with "little stick trees." No decisions will be made during Monday's meeting, but Salucci is hoping to get some commitment from the City Council to protect the trees. She wants to make sure the grant gives the city the flexibility to modify the original design. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA