Monday, March 28, 2016

Don't Mess with Success

Last summer the City of Naples cut down many trees in the medians along Gulf Shore Boulevard North and replanted the medians.  Big mistake.  Gulf Shore Boulevard North is home to many high rise buildings occupied by wealthy residents who did not take kindly to the changes.


The City is rapidly (and expensively) backpedaling.  The City Council has appropriated lots of money, and an advisory committee of residents has met repeatedly to review a new master landscape plan to replant the medians one more time, with big, mature trees, shrubs and ground covers.  

At a meeting in the City Council chamber, the advisory committee was getting a tree-by-tree
review of the plan.  (A painting of the Naples Pier is on the wall behind them.)

Moral:  Don't mess around with successful people's trees.

15 comments:

PerthDailyPhoto said...

Oh dear! I'm a little surprised they went ahead without discussing with the residents Jack, although didn't they, the residents, notice trees were being chopped? In the big picture though it doesn't seem that big a problem :)

Jack said...

It is at least a half million dollars, on top of whatever they wasted with last summer's replanting. They plant mature trees, not twigs, and it is two miles of medians. The City did an inadequate job of consulting with the neighbors, did the job in the summer when many residents are elsewhere, ran into screams of complaints once they started, but decided to finish the job instead of leaving the medians barren.

Tanya Breese said...

seems like such a waste of money, cut down to re-plant...the city at work!

John "By Stargoose And Hanglands" said...

How much notice would have been taken if the residents were less wealthy, one wonders.

Sharon said...

It pays (so to speak) to speak up.

Taken For Granted said...

City politics is always interesting, especially when wealthy, influential people are involved. Our state decided to widen one of our main streets through town and claimed they needed to cut down about 60 mature deciduous trees. There was lots of opposition at our City Counsel meetings, but this is a state plan, so the City Counsel can only advise. I think our trees will be gone before long.

RedPat said...

Bad planning! The wealthy know how and to whom to complain to get action, plus they are listened to more than those with less influence. Sad.

Bill said...

That's some city planning for you. Should always talk to the people first to hear what they have to say before acting.

William Kendall said...

I wonder if planting mature trees is that good an idea compared to younger ones.

Bob Crowe said...

I really like this - the political and the artificial. They have some common elements.

Gunn said...

Looks like there are some serious talks going on.
Nice and unusual documentary.

Stefan Jansson said...

Don't mess with trees, period.

jennyfreckles said...

Sounds just like here! Beats me why these organisations haven't learned by now that genuine consultation is important. The world resounds to the sound of U-turns.

Linda said...

Heh heh! Money is power... best not to forget that!

Kay said...

Ouch! Homework wasn't done. William may have a point. Though people are unhappy about the new views mature trees and shrubs don't take as well to transplanting as the spindlier young ones.