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Shop owner to help pay for trees Medford to replace �pruned� flowering pears By Jessica Smith An antique shop owner will help pay for the eight flowering pear trees he pruned to half their size this winter. Don Lacey, who is also principal at North Medford High School, declined to comment on the settlement reached with the city. Medford Urban Renewal officials say Lacey agreed pay a portion of the bill to replace the trees. Urban renewal will pick up the remaining costs. "We�re glad he volunteered to cover part of the cost," said Eric Iversen, an urban renewal planner. "At the same time, urban renewal stepped up to the plate immediately. These trees are a benefit to everybody." It was not immediately known exactly how much Lacey will pay to replace the trees. Iversen directed questions about Lacey�s contribution to City Attorney Ron Doyle, who was unavailable for comment. Lacey admitted in late January that he cut the trees to prevent branches from obscuring signs and awnings outside his store, Memories Antiques, and other businesses on West Main between Grape and Fir streets. Though Lacey said he trimmed the flowering pears about a foot, city officials estimated as much as 14 feet was taken off the tops of the trees, which now stand about 10 feet high. Known as Chanticleer Flowering Pears, the trees typically grow to 40 feet in height, more than twice the width of their canopies. The urban renewal department planted the flowering pears several years ago along Main Street in downtown Medford, and continued to take responsibility for their care. Lacey claims he had the city�s permission to trim the trees between Grape and Fir streets, though he says he can�t remember who at City Hall granted his request. Even so, Lacey violated a Medford code that requires property owners citywide to obtain a permit before performing any maintenance work on a tree growing on public property. An arborist consulted on the case said cuts made to the tree limbs may have caused irreversible structural damage. Topping a flowering pear can cause the tree to spread out like a shrub and may put it at risk for rot. Rather than try to reshape the trees with intensive pruning, urban renewal officials decided to dig them up. The work will be completed in the coming weeks. The project�s total cost is unclear. According to Iversen, urban renewal paid $1,024 for the replacement trees and it will cost about $880 to plant them. It�s not yet known how much urban renewal will pay to remove the topped trees. Reach reporter Jessica Smith at 776-4481, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.