The City of Charlotte is seeking to remove this 100+ year old willow oak tree as part of a sidewalk project along Margaret Wallace Rd. This tree is a qualified Heritage Tree that is meant to be protected under the city's own Heritage Tree ordinance passed in May of 2023. The ordinance provides degrees of protection for qualified heritage trees up to a point, but there is no substantial protection in place for privately owned trees as of the drafting of this petition. The City of Charlotte maintains a public image of caring about its tree canopy and touts the importance of preserving trees. All except this one.

I have worked tirelessly for months to preserve this tree, advocating at project meetings, hiring a master arborist, among other efforts to convince the city to preserve it. It now faces removal through condemnation via temporary easement. Despite my protests and offerings to work with their team to develop a solution that will preserve the tree, they refuse to consider. In meetings with the project team, they have referenced efforts on their end to save it, but no alternative plans for the tree's preservation on the part of the city have been shared with me or my team as of 02/21/24.

This tree has stood sentinel at this spot for over 100 years. It has seen the growth of our city and sheltered generations of wildlife. Today, it exists in fine health and there is no justification for its removal. We see evidence all around our city of large trees living harmoniously among roads and sidewalks.

It can be done.

Please sign this petition so we can present the community's concern, and perhaps together, with enough voices, we can save this beautiful tree, which has every right to live and thrive.

NOTE: This tree is completely privately owned, this is not an issue of right of way. I am the owner.

Here is the link to the public project page:

https://www.charlottenc.gov/Growth-and-Development/Projects/Sidewalks/Margaret-Wallace-Sidewalk

Here is the link to the Charlotte Tree Ordinance:

https://www.charlottenc.gov/files/sharedassets/city/v/1/growth-and-development/getting-started/documents/charlotte-tree-ordinance-adopted.pdf

In this particular case, the City is required to plant one or more 'mitigation trees' to compensate for the loss of this heritage tree. Our stance is that mitigation trees are not a satisfactory solution due to the lack of protections that ensure they not only reach maturity, but are protected for their lifetimes. It will take decades for any mitigation saplings to even reach heritage tree status, and over 100 years for them to replace this individual tree. 

Healthy, mature trees are vital to the ecological and historic integrity of our community. They deserve care and special consideration as grandmothers of our city. We must serve as stewards for them, as they cannot speak for themselves.

Thank you.

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02.21.24 UPDATE + MESSAGE:

https://www.wsoctv.com/news/local/charlotte-woman-starts-petition-prevent-heritage-tree-being-removed/KIYA3CGDAVFJLGSF3OEFICC6TM/

The City's statement to WSOC, which is included in the article linked above, fails to acknowledge the importance of mature trees like this one. It will require 100+ years for any planted mitigation trees (saplings) to fully replace it, and with so few protections in place for heritage trees, it becomes a question if they will ever even reach maturity. If this tree falls, any planted in its place can, and most likely will, fall victim to another development project in the future if there are not stricter protections adopted. 

We MUST demand change. If we as citizens of this city care about our canopy like we say we do, if we care about the ecological and historic integrity of our community, we must demand better protections for these trees.

Thank you for caring. More to come.

- Amanda

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Below are several contacts for the City to raise your voice to:

Mayor Vi Lyles
704.336.2241
mayor@charlottenc.gov

Marjorie Molina
City Council Official
704.336.3432
marjorie.molina@charlottenc.gov

Patricia Abney
Project Manager
General Services
980.214.5845
patricia.abney@charlottenc.gov

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Media contacts:

WJZY Queen City News
Morgan Frances, Anchor/Reporter
704.944.3300
morgan.frances@qcnews.com

WSOC / Action 9 News
Almiya White, Reporter
704.335.8249
almiya.white@wsoc-tv.com

Charlotte Observer
Gavin Off, Data reporter/Journalist
goff@charlotteobserver.com

WCNC NBC News
Austin Walker
awalker@wcnc.com

WFAE 90.7 / NPR
704.549.9323
news@wfae.org