Editor,
The Garry Oak that got in the way. How did that happen? It’s not as if the tree crept malevolently into the sole unoccupied lot(s) in the Rose Hill subdivision. It’s been in that location just north of old War Memorial Stadium and Whidbey Avenue for years.
Now the Garry Oak tree is threatened with removal because of the desire to squeeze one more dwelling into the subdivision.
Garry Oak trees are protected by Oak Harbor Municipal Code 20.16 — well, sort of.
In this case, the developer applied for an exception under OHMC 20.12.060.
With any restriction, exception should be granted only in the rarest of circumstances.
The restrictions governing the protection of Garry Oak trees already include several work-arounds to ameliorate the impact to private property owners.
Garry Oak removal should not be an option.
In 2006, when the Rose Hill PRD was approved, the city should have recognized the conflict between allowing the PRD as proposed and preserving the Garry Oak. Instead, the city’s explanation is that “the existence of the Garry Oak was not known at the time of the development approval,” an indication of both non-disclosure on the part of the developer and lack of due diligence on the part of the city.
With some forethought over the last 10 years, the plan could have been massaged and may have incorporated the Garry Oak into the side yard of the neighboring house, improving the value of the property and the quality of life of the owners, or the Garry Oak might have been selected to be the crown jewel in the neighborhood park.
Instead, the plan has the Garry Oak boxed into a small space that obviously cannot contain both a tree and a residence.
OHMC restrictions to development exist for many reasons. Restrictions that protect the well-being of Garry Oak trees in Oak Harbor are no less important than other restrictions.
The city is to be commended for establishing the Centennial Grove, with over 300 trees.
However, in light of the previous Mayor’s surreptitious Sunday destruction of the post office oak, the City of Oak Harbor should establish a precedent that saves the Rose Hill Oak.
Brian Giles
Oak Harbor
Voice support for tree preservation
