Over forty trees are planned to be removed to make way for a new elementary school in Westover, but Arlington Public Schools is hosting one last meeting about potential tree-saving solutions before construction starts.
A discussion is scheduled with neighbors on Monday (Sept. 16) at the edge of the grove will involve discussion of whether any of the trees can be saved. The meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at the basketball court on the Reed site (1644 N. McKinley Road).
The current plans call for the removal of roughly 42 trees to facilitate construction that will add to the building that houses the Westover Library and, soon, a new neighborhood elementary school.
Residents have expressed concerns about the removal of the grove, which includes a variety of maple, cedar and mulberry trees. A presentation on the project noted that an inventory of the trees was prepared by a certified arborist and tree removal was recommended.
According to the presentation:
Decisions on tree removal balanced: Building location and required excavation, site improvements (play areas, universally accessible walkways, etc.) and underground utilities (sanitary, storm, geothermal, etc.).
The designs for the site include adding 82 replacement trees, well above the 49 trees required to be planted according to county regulations.
But the plans have drawn some criticism from neighbors and local environmentalists. County Board candidate Audrey Clement specifically addressed the County Board’s approval of the project for its destruction of the trees at a debate this past Monday (Sept. 9). Many of the trees are larger, like a silver maple tree 4.5 feet wide.
At the meeting next Monday, the presentation says neighbors will be invited to discuss the removal with an arborist and county staff.
But any moving of the remaining trees will have to occur quickly: construction of the new school is scheduled to start by the end of September.
The Westover neighborhood suffered extensive damage from flooding this summer, but school officials said the new school will include updated stormwater protections.
“Stormwater structures and basins are much enhanced from what exists on-site now as per current state stormwater requirements,” said APS spokesman Frank Bellavia.
Map via Arlington Public Schools