UPDATE Sept. 8th 2007

Good news... our meeting with ADOT went very well.

Due to YOUR support....our concerns were heard by ADOT and we have saved the lives of many large Sycamore trees that were slated for removal, and... those that would have been severely damaged by digging trenches during the construction process, are now going to be protected. Several of the requests for changes that were posted on this Blog were read by ADOT officials and we are happy to announce that some of these requests have been heard and the plans have already been ammended.

Here are the updates:

CHANGES MADE ON THE NORTH SIDE OF 179 AS FOLLOWS:

1) The new sidewalk that will be installed along the north side of highway 179 in front of the new age stores will be changed. The new walkway will now be curvilinear and it will sweep around those trees. Originally, it was going to run straight down the road. Our concerns were heard and (7) of those (8) large Sycamore trees there that have had the green signs on them are going to be saved. One of the (7) to be saved has a 15inch trunk and ADOT will attempt to transplant it by using the company that has been handling all of the other tree transplants since the beginning of the project. At the moment, one of what are now (8) trees is slated to be destroyed to allow for a new driveway into the parking lot of one of the new age stores. Bottom line....we saved the lives of (7) huge Sycamores.

2) Tree wells will be installed around those same trees to protect them from grade changes.

3) The Utilities companies that are digging the huge ditch there along that same stretch are taking a look at options to prevent damaging the roots of the double trunked Sycamore tree that their trench is 4ft. away from. They will involve a certified Arborist to assist them during that process.

CHANGES MADE ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF HIGHWAY 179 AS FOLLOWS:

1) The storm drain that was to be installed along the front of the Tlaquepaque wall is being relocated to the center median to prevent damage to the roots to several of the Sycamores in that area.

2) The two very large Sycamore trees that have the red ribbon on them that are near the telephone pole near the bridge were slated for removal and ADOT has appointed two certified Arborists to see if there is a chance for their survival if the concrete footers for the new bridge are placed 4ft away from them. I asked for a review of this situation and to see if the curve of the bridge could be made to bend about 5ft. more to the north to save these two trees. One of them is the largest and oldest of all of the Sycamores we are concerned about.


3) Gabions (rocks placed into wire matting) will blanket the entire creek bank that was severely washed out by the flood a few years ago. Soil that washed away back then, will be placed back over the roots of those large Sycamores and the creek bank will be retained permenantly this way. This will protect all of those trees along the Tlaquepaque parking lot edge. This was a big concern and it addresses the issues of any potential damage to those trees downstream of the Oak Creek bridge.


Summary:
As it stands....
1) The roundabout will remain as per plan.
2) The two large Cottonwood trees in front of Garlands rug store are to be removed because they end up in the middle of the proposed roundabout.
3) One 15 inch Sycamore in front of the Krystal Castle new age store will be removed.
4) The large Arizona Cypress near Portal Lane that is a foot away from the Tlaquepaque wall will be removed.
5) One 9 inch Sycamore and one Ash that are at the north side of the bridge will be removed.


Due to our concerns...another change is that there will be several large 24inch box Sycamore trees installed all along the corridor in front of the Tlaquepaque wall and in front of the New Age stores.

I feel good about this and am very pleased that ADOT has listened to the voice of the people.

Blessings,


Jim Law
Save Sedona Trees
Land Art Works
Exec. Producer / V.O.I.C.E Entertainment