Why wait 50 years for a shade tree?

July 5, 2005

Spectrum\Joel Davidson

A strange thing is happening in the Mat-Su these days.

On one hand, an army of backhoes and bulldozers continues scraping trees, shrubs and topsoil off the surface of the Valley. Often these earth-movers remove every dip and bump from the landscape, leaving the surface as flat and gravelly as modern machinery can make it.

The logic is that smooth gravel pads are worth far more to potential developers than patches of thickly wooded forests. Developers also cite the understandable need to clear the native vegetation to make way for building sites and underground utilities, necessary components of urban expansion.

On the other hand, an army of student volunteers, city employees and local charities is out digging holes and planting tiny trees all over the Valley, often in the same locations that were scraped clean only a few months before.

Community leaders encourage the little student green-thumbs, reminding them that trees provide beauty and shade as well as clean air and water. Occasionally, special planting days, poster contests and award ceremonies promote urban tree planting efforts.

What I fail to understand is why every tree on so many commercial and residential lots is lopped off, piled up with others and burned in the first place. Obviously it's easier to start a construction project without having to build around pesky cottonwood, spruce or birch groves. It's convenient to wipe the slate clean and worry about putting a few 18-inch shrubs in the ground later.

Clear cutting may be convenient for developers but it's certainly not necessary. Many communities in America have reasonable means of protecting large trees and natural landscapes within urban areas. In Charleston, South Carolina, near where my wife grew up, the local county has an ordinance that helps conserve the largest trees in the urban areas. Developers may still cut trees (even the large ones) but the public works director has to approve the exceptions.

The ordinance probably drove developers crazy at first, but the community took the long view and decided that a minor inconvenience to developers was worth the conservation of large trees -- trees that now weave a green canopy over parking lots, gas stations, strip malls and neighborhood streets.

This ordinance hasn't stopped the construction of new business centers, shopping malls or housing projects. Those necessary developments continue to expand into rural areas but, as they do, many of the largest naturally grown trees tower above places of business, recreation and residence.

These aren't spindly eight-foot-tall transplants that may or may not make it through their first winter. Rather, these are giant native landmarks.

Any ordinance that aims to conserve even a minimal amount of vegetation on private land will certainly be resisted from a certain portion of the population. It's more work to plan a development around a few trees. The lot layout and design might need modification and developers might need to get permission from the local government before cutting older trees. In the long run, however, the next owner and the one after him will have a few trees. In addition, the city will have cleaner air, clearer water and patches of natural beauty.

The city of Wasilla is currently working to modify its city landscape ordinance to better promote tree planting and care. On the other side of the Valley, Palmer is looking at a new comprehensive plan, which includes potential parks, greenbelts and pockets of natural vegetation. Time will tell if these measures are effective at promoting natural conservation even as the Mat-Su continues to develop at breakneck speed.

Ultimately, owning a piece of land for one year or 20 shouldn't be an unfettered license to clear every tree, burn those trees, and scrape the soil down to a gravel pad. Kids today shouldn't have to wait until they're middle-aged before enjoying the shade of a city tree.

Urban Mat-Su is expanding fast but the Valley is still surrounded by vast tracts of beautiful wilderness. We have the ability to enjoy rapid urban development, while preserving substantial portions of our natural history.

With a little forethought we won't have to escape our cities for a little greenery and fresh air -- we can still have it both ways.

Joel Davidson is a Frontiersman reporter. You can reach him at 352-2266 or by e-mailing joel.davidson@frontiersman.com.