WTOC, Savannah, Georgia, news, weather and sports | Residents Vow to Save Trees

Residents Vow to Save Trees

SAVANNAH, GA (WTOC) - Some Chatham County residents are trying to save two live oak trees on Wilmington Island. A developer wants to put a new office building at Johnny Mercer Boulevard and Penn Waller Road. The trouble is, putting up the building means some very old trees will likely have to come down.

The trees are part of a large tree canopy in the area. They were supposed to come down on Wednesday, but they didn't and some Chatham County residents are vowing to do whatever they can to keep it that way.

With signs in hand, members of the Wilmington Island Garden Club and other Chatham County residents are determined to save the trees.

"Everybody in Savannah loves their trees," said nearby Whitemarsh Island resident Marianne Heimes. "And this is the beginning of a tree canopy that stretches from here all the way to Highway 80 on this side of Johnny Mercer."

"We're afraid that if these trees get taken down, they're just going to roll all the way down Johnny Mercer taking down the mature live oaks," added Karen Arms of Wilmington Island.

The two towering live oaks have stood along what's now Johnny Mercer Boulevard for more than 150 years, but all that could soon change. When the Metropolitan Planning Commission initially approved the developer's plan, it didn't call for removing the trees, but that plan was subject to the approval of Chatham County's engineering office. County officials said, based on the traffic in the area, the property needed a turn lane. That means the trees will likely need to be removed.

Demonstrators said they're not against development, they just want to see it done responsibly and they want their say.

"The public should have been advised and given an opportunity to comment on it," said Heimes. "The trees out here are just valuable to us. The power lines have made them rather misshapen but they're still canopy trees that provide shade and people don't want to lose them."

Chatham County manager Russ Abolt said when traffic engineers say a turn lane is necessary for public safety, it is not a matter for public comment. Chatham County chairman Pete Liakakis and Chatham County commissioner Patrick Farrell, who oversees the district, are both checking to make sure the work was done according to permit.

Right now, the work has stopped. The developer will have to inform the county in writing of their intended day to continue the work as well as post a public notice of their intentions. WTOC was unable to reach them for their comments.

Reported by: Liz Flynn, lflynn@wtoc.com