Jay Kuten: Fate of heritage trees hangs in balance

Right. I've admitted I love trees. And so, when we received council's assessment of the trees on Oakland Ave and the prospective intention of cutting a bunch of them down, I was afraid. Fear of losing the trees, like fear of loss generally, can be motivating or it can be paralysing. What fear ought not to be is the full basis for decision-making. That requires discriminating judgment, and fear is a blunt instrument obscuring judgment. It turns out the antidote for fear is fact, and fact - especially the finding of it - is a good support for judgment.

This is by way of expressing appreciation to Councillor Ray Stevens, who chaired it, and the council staff who attended a meeting recently to discuss the plans for the future of the trees.

Contrary to rumours of a pre-ordained decision process, they all appeared willing to listen and to consider both the views and propositions on offer by participants.

From the 100 or so participants, I learned that I was not alone in expressing a love for those trees. Everyone who spoke, regardless of their ultimate position, said they loved the trees and would not like to see them cut down. But - and it was a significant reservation - there were problems. And, as expressed by some neighbours of the trees, those problems evoked a sense of fear.

There were problems of actual fallen dead limbs and potential fallen limbs and even whole trees. There were problems of the shading and shape of the trees. There were problems of the effects of wind and of the power lines and footpaths that encroach. Even the age of the trees - 100 years for most of them - occasioned the fear that natural limits on their lifespan might one day cause them to fall all by themselves.

The trees evoke a great deal of emotion. What's needed is the counter-balance of more rational input. Light in addition to heat and fact to counter fear.

The council representatives agreed with residents that a better long-term plan for the maintenance of the trees was needed, taking into account costs and the need to conserve ratepayers' money. Before a plan can be made, the question of the assessment of the trees needs re-examination. The current one, the Visual Tree Assessment, represents only one view, largely a negative one, taking in mainly the problems of the trees. Other approaches exist which take into account their overall value and health, the value added by their presence and arrangement in the street and neighbourhood.

An assessment independent of the council could look at these broader questions as well as help to dispel any lingering issues of conflict of interest. Such a conflict can be imputed as the present assessment was performed by the council's contracted arborist who would also be eligible to do the work that any assessment would dictate.

From the perspective of medicine, when major surgery is contemplated, it helps to get a second opinion because trust and confidence, which improves outcome, will be enhanced.

Several good suggestions were put forth. They included the need for long-term planning and maintenance, the desirability of having the power cables which now override the trees moved underground, a consideration particularly apt now that broadband cabling is coming. Such a move would involve approaching the power company and needs to be pursued.

Respect for the heritage nature of these particular oak trees brought up the suggestion of involving the German embassy and that community in planning and finance. The trees were planted by Consul Ferdinand Krull. Perhaps now that all the history, the war, and that fear is behind us, we might consider, if the situation warrants, to change the name back to Krull's Lane.

The matter will next be addressed at 2pm on February 21 by the council's infrastructure committee, 101 Guyton St.

It's always good to see democracy in action.