Marysville residents might notice some more foliage along Fifth Street over the next year.
Earlier this year, the city received a $25,000 grant from Dayton Power & Light’s Right Tree, Right Place program. City officials told council Monday they’re using the money to get rid of trees that interfere with power lines along Fifth Street, and then plant new ones.
City Urban Forester Andy Evans said the city inventoried all the trees on Fifth Street from Five Points to McCloud Park. Of the 111 trees along that stretch of road, the city is planning to remove 21 trees that conflict with overhead power lines and utilities.
Evans told council the city intends to spread the project out over several months. That way, the impact to the city’s streetscape would be more gradual.
“These trees are fairly large, they do provide a little bit of shade,” Evans said. “If we removed them all at once, the visual impact would be pretty significant.”
The city will first remove 11 trees over a one-week period July 9. Evans said these trees were selected based on how decayed they are. After that, the city will spend the fall planting new trees along Fifth Street.
“We’re going to go ahead and plant as many of those trees as we can get done this fall,” he said.
Evans said the city thinks it will be able to plant about 65 new trees in that time.
The second phase will take place in “early 2019,” with the remaining 10 trees being removed and 10 more trees planted along the street over a week.
The city refers to the new trees as “utility-friendly.” Councilperson Henk Berbee asked Evans what that means.
Evans replied that utility-friendly trees “grow lower.”
“They can grow under the power lines without interfering,” Evans said.
According to Evans, the city will also plant larger trees on the opposite side of the street from power lines.
Evans also said the smaller trees the city picks won’t be “the smallest we can get.” Those trees will still reach up and provide shade for the street and sidewalk.
Berbee also noted smaller trees could prove less damaging to sidewalks and roadways, since smaller trees have less invasive roots.
Councilperson Alan Seymour asked if the city has considered working with residents who might be interested in having larger trees in their yards. That way, the city could plant some of those trees on the side of Fifth Street with power lines.
Evans said city ordinances state that trees planted within 10 feet of the sidewalk must be on the smaller side.
During public comment, Fifth Street resident Kathy Young asked officials if residents could refuse the city’s right to plant trees in front of their properties. She expressed concern about what effect the trees would have on the city’s older sewer lines.
“We could discuss it,” said Public Service Director Mike Andrako. “We maintain the trees, so it’s not like it’s a burden on the homeowner.”
As for sewer lines, Andrako said those types of utilities shouldn’t be affected. He said the city would generally be more concerned about nearby sidewalks.
Andrako also pointed out that since all of the work will be done in the public right of way, the city wouldn’t need permission from residents to plant trees. The city, he said, does try to work with residents in these situations.
Officials urged residents with questions or concerns to contact the city.
“Obviously, we try to keep everybody happy,” Andrako said.