SEPTEMBER 2020.VOL. 20, NO. 09. PORTLAND, MAINE.
PORTLAND’S COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER. FREE!
Spare the Woodman’s Axe Heritage Tree Ordinance to Protect Urban Trees By Tony Zeli planting and maintaining city trees. If the property owner plans to replace it, then replacement trees must be of the same or similar species and size. However, there are exemptions if trees are unavailable. In In Preble’s own telling of his persuch a case, the property owner can reambulating journey through Portland (as place the tree with a greater number of recorded in “History of Portland,” by smaller trees. William Willis, 1864), Preble noted State, And in case of a tree that poses a risk Danforth, and Cumberland as “beautifulto safety, the city arborist may give imme- ly embowered” by trees. He counted no What the ordinance does and diate authorization to remove it. Likewise, more or less than 301 trees along Conduring severe weather or emergencies. gress Street alone. Preble concluded, “… doesn’t do through the whole period of our history, Portland properly has been called the If you have a big tree in your neigh- Big role for the city arborist borhood that you love, you may think it’s The ordinance places a lot of respon- ‘Forest City.’” That was in 1854. protected. Think again. The ordinance pre- sibility on City Arborist Jeff Tarling. When Fast forward to June 2020. While vents the removal of any “heritage tree” asked if he had the staffing to properly imthousands of Portlanders joined the rest on private property but only within his- plement the ordinance, Tarling was hopeof the nation mourning George Floyd, a toric districts. Also, it may be relatively ful. much quieter protest began in the West simple to get a permit granting permission “We have asked for some addition- End over the removal of trees. to swing the axe. al funding to support staff to inspect and On a lot on the corner of Park and A “heritage tree” is a tree located evaluate trees that are affected by the new Gray Streets, seven healthy, mature linden on privately owned property and locat- ordinance,” said Tarling. “We are working trees—deciduous trees with heart-shaped ed in a designated historic district. They on promotional and media information leaves—were cut down. Many of the larginclude large shade trees of 24 inches in for both property owners, commercial arer trees were reportedly two to three diameter when measured at breast height. borists, and the public. feet in diameter. Also included are ornamental trees that “Overall, we think this is a good first measure 12 inches in diameter at breast Distraught neighbors protested and height. They include trees on the state’s step to protect Portland’s heritage trees. hung signs on fencing along the properRegister of Big Trees (known as the “Big I think we can thank our citizenry and ty. They read: “Where did the trees go?” Tree List”) and native trees that are rare [Portland] City Council who supported and “CRIME SCENE.” Property owners this effort and the past unknown tree promptly removed the signs. Protesters or threatened. planters [who] have cared enough to replaced them with skull and crossbones A property owner can obtain a per- plant these beautiful trees often a century and more signs. It went on for weeks. mit from the parks department to remove ago – to this we are also honoring them. a heritage tree. The city arborist approves Of course, this is why Portland has been Theses weren’t the first trees to go the permit if there is a plan to replace it known as ‘the Forest City’ since the early down. West End community members or if applicants pay into a tree trust for 1800’s. Trees are part of Portland’s fabric; (including members of Portland Climate Action Team who submit The West End it has always been that way...” News “Bright Ideas” column) began to Denuding of the ‘Forest City’ wonder if our “Forest City” could remain INSIDE THIS Captain George H. Preble undertook such for very much longer. A new ordinance in the City of Portland makes it harder for private property owners to chop down large, healthy trees. But it allows emergency waivers and tree removal permits. City Arborist Jeff Tarling believes the new heritage tree ordinance is the first of its kind in northern New England, although Massachusetts and Connecticut have had such ordinances for many years.
EDITION Page 4
La Vida Local asks what’s wrong with camping Page 5 Community events including a virtual trail event
the first known tree survey in Portland in 1854. He claimed to have walked every one of Portland’s approximate 134 streets and lanes to count each of Portland’s 3300 trees.
The first two photos from the top left are a look at the Precious Blood Monastery, viewed from Winter Street, after many large trees were cut down (2019). The third and fourth photos of skull and crossbones and recently cut linden trees were taken at Gray and Park Streets (2020). -First three photos by Rosanne Graef and fourth by Espahbad Dodd
Blood Monastery on State Street get the ax (2019). Before that, a homeowner’s association took down several large trees along Clark Street (2018).The HOA felled the trees to fulfill a city parking space requirement for a development on Brackett Street. A nearby resident, who had walked under the huge trees twice a day, awoke one morning and found herself “shocked” by the scene. A few years farther back, a huge stretch of undeveloped land along West Commercial Street experienced a clear cutting (2015). Owners did this to prevent camping by unhoused persons.
Another example is Elm Terrace on the corner of High and Danforth Streets. Although Capt. Preble isn’t counting It had been a green space with huge white trees today, it is clear that the number of pines. Many enjoyed the pines with great trees cut down in the West End over the pride until they came down. past handful of years is staggering. Neighbors saw huge trees behind the Precious CONT'D ON PAGE 3
Page 6 Wine Guy Layne Witherell looks at pet nats Page 8 The Portland Palate does food trucks Page 9 Climate Justice features on strategic business and pandemics and climate Page 16
Astrologer Leo Knighton Tallarico returns with a look at the most important time of our lives
Page 13… Cullen Ryan and Jess Falero on homelessness
Page 15… Tree Trivia