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Tree removal spurs more debate

ROGERS CITY — The debate about tree removal was again heated during the Rogers City Council meeting, Tuesday.

This time the trees discussed are located at North Shore Park. Owner of Up North 23 Restaurant and Lounge (formally Water’s Edge) Jesse Streich requested four trees to be removed from North Shore Park.

Before a motion was made a few people voiced their concerns during public comment.

Purple Martin Cindy Vezinau said she was opposed to the idea.

“The reason I’m opposed is I think we’re going too quickly. I know the restaurant is very important to the city. I want to support it. I don’t think once you remove mature trees like that you can replace them,” she said.

Resident Rachel Goodstein also stated her opposition.

“You don’t have dominion over a publicly held property. This is a public park supposed to be enjoyed by everyone in the city If it is allowed there doesn’t seem to be process. My concern is where does this end,” Goodstein said.

Streich then discussed the plans for the area. He said their goal is to give their customers the best dining experience possible.

“Obviously the deck and the windows in the restaurant lounge were built facing Lake Huron; gorgeous view, beautiful view. Over the years they (trees) obstruct the view on the deck. They obstruct the view in the restaurant and lounge. What we’re asking is if a few of them can be eliminated,” he said.

Mayor Pro-tem Gary Nowak said one of the requirements of the request is to have Streich replace the trees with new ones.

“I’ll make a motion that we allow it. That they work with the city manager. The city manager to decide where the trees will go and have as many as they take out replaced,” Nowak said.

After the motion was made Mayor Tom Sobeck made a few statements.

“If there’s one thing I’ve learned in the last six months you don’t cut trees and you don’t close parks without discussion. We’ve had very little open public discussion on this. And Jesse, in my opinion you have to wait for those trees to come down. It’s just that simple. We have an obligation to you to do the best we can to help your business. But, we also have an obligation to the people that use the bike trail to make sure they’re comfortable. Just like you don’t want your clients looking at those trees I’m not sure many who use that bike trail want to look at your deck. We have to balance that. It’s that simple. Doing it in one meeting like this does one thing, sets a precedence I could never accept,” Sobeck said.

Nowak disagreed with Sobeck. He asked what they needed another workshop for.

“You and I talked about it, and talked about it and talked about it. What are we going to do wait until next summer or something,” Nowak said.

During previous comments a citizen discussed other times the council voted about the removal of trees in parks.

City Manager Joe Hefele said previous decisions were made specific to those parks.

“That resolution was specific to Trout River and Seagull Point. They’re basically saying we’re not going to timber a wooded park for profit. It was specific and those two are specifically mentioned. It’s (the decision) completely up to council and the city. There is no other entity we need to check with before we make a decision on those,” Hefele said.

The council then voted on whether to remove the trees and the motion didn’t pass. Nowak and Councilmember Ken Bielas voted to have the trees removed. Sobeck, and Councilmembers Dick Adair and Scott McLennan voted not to remove the trees. McLennan then made a motion to refer the issue to the Parks and Recreation Committee for further discussion. This motion did pass with Nowak and Bielas in opposition.

“I’m not against cutting trees I’m against cutting them in this process,” Sobeck said.

Jordan Spence can be reached via email at jspence@thealpenanews.com or by phone at 358-5687.

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