Council Orders Cutting Trees Near Levee Despite Resident's Opposition

The City Council of Foster City last night unanimously agreed to chop down 85 trees along the levee, despite opposition from a resident biologist who claimed the decision would ruin one of the city's most popular destinations.

William Coleman, a research biologist who lives in Foster City, said he walks the pedestrian path along the levee with his girlfriend everyday and was "horrified" when he saw recently that nearly 100 trees in the area were noticed to be chopped down.

Coleman spoke passionately to the City Council in favor of saving the trees, despite concerns expressed in a city report claiming the roots of the noticed trees were disrupting the pedway's pavement, causing a potential trip and fall hazard. 

"I think you're really making a big mistake to cut those trees down," said Coleman, who claimed some of the doomed trees were between 30 and 40 years old. He also said the trees create shade on the trail, contribute to the levee's stability, provide habitat for birds and animals and serve as aesthetic appeal, among other benefits.

Council members ultimately voted 4-0 to pay $46,310 to Davey Tree to cut down 85 trees along the walkway, as well as 27 shrubs, citing a potential health liability for those walking along the levee. Councilman Charlie Bronitsky was absent from the meeting.

The city's study claims many of the Poplar trees slated to be cut are diseased and dying. And the root systems of some other trees are responsible for deteriorating the walkway.

But Coleman, who lives in the Schooner Bay Apartments neighboring the levee, claims he personally inspected the trees and didn't find the disease to be widespread or chronic enough to justify cutting them down.

He also suggested that the city look into installing galvanized metal sheets or curb stones around the walkway to prevent the roots of the trees from getting under the walkway's pavement and causing further damage.

But said all alternatives have been explored, and that chopping down the trees is the only possible resolution.

"Do we really need to take down 30-to-40 year-old trees that are providing a lot of shade and aesthetic appeal just on the odd chance they may damage the asphalt? Why is the asphalt given the priority?" asked Coleman.

disputed Coleman's claims that the city was favoring asphalt over trees, and defended the proposal to cut the trees.

"It is the City Council's responsibility to be concerned with what is in the best interest of all citizens of Foster City," said Wykoff. "I felt that overall it was in the best interest of the citizens of the city. But it's not an issue of asphalt versus trees with me. "

People come from across the Bay Area to ride bikes, walk and run along the levee, and the appeal of the destination is enhanced by the trees, said Coleman.

Miller confirmed the popularity of the site, claiming millions of people visit it annually. He also said the levee's popularity increases the need to avoid to address potential hazards.

City representatives met with the landlords and homeowners associations of properties near the levee to receive community input on the idea of cutting down the trees, and heard no opposition to the idea, said Miller.

Coleman though claimed he spoke not only for himself at the meeting, but also for the dozens of people he had met on the trail, who when he told them about the trees' fate, adamantly opposed the idea.

When asked by Councilman Art Kiesel whether he attended the meeting that took place between his landlord and the city, Coleman said he was not aware that the meeting took place.

"The rest of the people who use the path, but dont own the property, kind of don't have any say in what happens," said Coleman. "Which is too bad because that's one of the reasons they live here and they like working here."

But despite an extensive discussion, Coleman's last minute appeal to save the trees fell short. A decision that he said afterward would upset many residents and fans of the levee's natural habitat.

"There are going to be very unhappy people out there, I'm just telling you," said Coleman.

The trees are scheduled to be chopped down by May.