Without seeking the approval of Seven Oaks residents, the Seven Oaks CDD Board has decided to remove and destroy EVERY oak tree lining the streets of Seven Oaks!  Their reason?  The oak tree roots are causing damage to the sidewalks, and that damage will lead to ongoing repair costs in the future.  So in order to “save” the residents from paying increased CDD costs, the CDD Board has decided to cut down the trees. 

We agree that keeping the trees will lead to ongoing repair costs.  But what about the financial and other costs that our neighborhood WILL PAY if the trees are destroyed?  Some of those costs are:

1.)     THERE IS THE IMMEDIATE, UNECESSARY, UP-FRONT COST OF REMOVING THE TREES.

2.)    PROPERTY VALUES WILL BE REDUCED.  According to the International Society of Arboriculture, “street trees improve the curb appeal of a neighborhood and increase property values by 5% to 20%”.  According to the Arbor Day Foundation, “In one study, 83% of realtors believe that mature trees have a ‘strong or moderate impact’ on the salability of homes listed for under $150,000; on homes over $250,000, this perception increases to 98%.”

3.)    ELECTRIC BILLS WILL BE HIGHER.  According to the U.S. Department of Energy, “carefully positioned trees can save up to 25% of the energy a typical household uses”.  Trees accomplish this by impacting the “microclimate”, or the area immediately surrounding your home.  And the trees do not have to be right next to your home to make an impact.  In the summer, trees can provide shade for your home, but also for your sidewalk, driveway, and street.  According to the Tree Care Industry Association, “trees can reduce air temperatures by up to 25 degrees than on nearby blacktop”.  And in the winter, trees reduce the cost of heating your home by serving as a windbreak to deflect winter winds away from your home.  According to “22 Benefits of Urban Street Trees” by Dan Burden, “A properly shaded neighborhood, mostly from urban street trees, can reduce energy bills for a household from 15-35%”.

4.)   OUR ROADS WILL NEED TO BE RE-PAVED SOONER.  According to the Urban Forestry Network, “Trees also lend to the preservation of streets paved with asphalt. Asphalt paving contains stone aggregate in an oil binder. Without shade provided by trees, the oil heats up and volatizes, leaving the aggregate unprotected. Vehicles then drive over the aggregate causing it to loosen which grinds down the pavement. Therefore, not only do trees help to maintain the integrity of community roads, they also lower costs expended on re-paving roadways.”  Studies have shown that street trees can add 40% to 60% more life to asphalt pavement.

5.)   PEDESTRIANS AND CHILDREN WILL BE LESS SAFE.  Numerous studies have shown that street trees cause people to drive slower, yet feel like they are covering the same distance more rapidly than if they were driving down a street with no trees.   The U.S. Department of Transportation recommends installing a tree canopy as a “speed control measure” that has been proven to slow motorist speeds by causing streets to appear narrower.  Street trees can reduce car speeds by 7-8 miles per hour.  Also, street trees could protect a pedestrian from impact if a car were to leave the roadway.     

6.)   HEALTH BENEFITS THAT TREES PROVIDE WILL BE LOST.  Tree leaves filter the air we breathe by removing dust and other particles from the air.  The rain then washes these pollutants to the ground.  Tree leaves also absorb carbon dioxide, ozone, carbon monoxide, and sulfur dioxide, and they give off oxygen.  According to the International Society of Arboriculture, “Hospital patients have been shown to recover from surgery more quickly when their hospital room offered a view of trees.”  Studies have shown that trees reduce blood pressure, and improve overall emotional and psychological health by creating a peaceful, serene environment.  And having shade means that you will be able to take more walks during the day when the scorching sun may have stopped you before.

7.)   OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WILL LOOK UGLY.  Street trees add beauty and curb appeal to a neighborhood by softening, complimenting, and enhancing architecture.  Without trees, we will see endless rows of mailboxes, cars, and jam-packed houses when driving down our streets.

 And why is it that Seven Oaks is destroying trees while the City of Tampa recognizes the many benefits trees provide and is planting them? The City of Tampa established a Community Tree Planting Program in 1997.  They plant trees along the City right-of-way, located between the street and the sidewalk.  The City of Tampa also spends money each year to repair sidewalks, but could it be that they understand that the economic benefits of the trees exceed the sidewalk maintenance costs?  You can view the City’s Tree Planting Program and their explanation of tree benefits online at: http://www.tampagov.net/appl_customer_service_center/form.asp?strServiceID=533 

We believe that the Seven Oaks CDD Board (and the Pasco County Board of County Commissioners who are said to have approved this project) did not look at the big picture of our neighborhood before deciding to remove the street trees.   What do the potential buyers of our homes see when they drive down our streets?  Street trees will make a greater positive impact on our neighborhood than perfect sidewalks ever will.  Have you ever been to Hyde Park, Westchase, or Hunter’s Green?  And as great of an impact as removing the trees will have, nobody came to the neighborhood for our vote on the matter!  They have cut down dozens of trees already, and are removing more each week.  

WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT TO STOP THEM!!!