City Allows Only One Of 19 Trees To Be Felled Homeowners Wanted To Clear Douglas Fir Away From House

City officials recommend against planting Douglas fir trees along a street because they shed too many branches.

But the City Council still won’t allow an Ash Avenue couple to remove 19 Douglas fir, some growing only 12 feet from the Tardinis’ home.

“I’m personally concerned with the number of trees being logged off of private property” within the city, Mayor Al Hassell said.

The council voted 4-1 to allow removal of just one tree, nearest the Tardini home. Only Councilman Kevin Packard voted to allow the Tardinis to remove more than one of the trees, which grow in the city street right of way.

The trees are nice, but “I don’t have to live in fear of them falling … I don’t have to clean up after them,” Packard said. “In my judgment, there is a hazard posed by the trees being so close to the home.”

Hassell agrees there is a hazard, but with that reasoning, “we should remove every tree in town,” Hassell said.

The Tardinis had asked for permission to remove some of the trees that were planted long before their home was on the city lot they own. They worry the trees will topple into their house in a strong wind.

They also fear damage to the house from falling branches. In addition, the roots are damaging the driveway and sprinkler system, they told the council.

Though clearly disappointed at the council vote, Rae Tardini said they will live with the decision. “We will do what we can in repairing the damage we have.”

The council also voted to delay adoption of new building codes at the request of the North Idaho Building Contractors Association. Terry Shea of Rathdrum said the 1994 Uniform Building Codes are “being crammed down our throat.”

Builders need more time to evaluate the implications of the new codes, he said. The city currently requires buildings to adhere to the 1991 building codes.

A proposal to charge developers and other citizens $75 an hour for certain legal work passed by a 4-1 vote. The fee will apply to annexation agreements, subdivision improvement agreements and similar work that primarily benefits developers.

Councilwoman Dixie Reid opposed the move, saying the city should be responsible for the costs because it sets the specifications for the agreements.

In other business the council:

Voted against salary increases for the mayor and City Council for next year. Councilman Dan English said he had reservations. The jobs, especially the mayor’s, “should compensate enough so that anyone can afford to take the position,” he said.Tabled action on the formula for calculating how much park land new developments must contribute to the city.

Lowered the traffic threshold that will require housing developers to conduct traffic studies for new construction.

, DataTimes