Murder, She Wrote
The City’s Plan Endangers the Five Historic Banyan Trees
The City Council formally designated the five Banyan trees behind City Hall as Historic Trees and publicly promoted its intent to create a “Banyan Village” around them. But the current Government Campus plan violates the City’s own tree‑protection ordinances and ignores the warnings of the project’s contracted arborist. If built as designed, the project will likely cause severe decline or loss of the Banyans.
BANYAN VILLAGE OR BANYAN GRAVEYARD????
WHAT THE PROJECT’S ARBORIST WARNED
Special consideration must be given to the five (5) Banyan trees previously designated by the City as Historic Trees…These trees are subject to additional regulatory protection…Trenching and digging near trees can cut roots, which may weaken the tree, cause decline, or even lead to tree failure. The closer and larger the root cuts, the greater the damage. Even small root cuts along long stretches can reduce water supply, leading to long-term health decline or death.
What City Ordinances Require Sections 27 45(4), 27 45(6), 27 45(7e)
What City Ordinances Require Sections 27 45(4), 27 45(6), 27 45(7e)
What City Ordinances Require Sections 27 45(4), 27 45(6), 27 45(7e)
- No soil may be added, removed, or disturbed within the drip line of a tree required to be preserved.
- No construction equipment, liquids, or debris may be placed within the drip line.
- A protective barrier must be installed at 6 feet or ⅔ of the drip line—whichever is greater—for hardwood trees such as Banyans.
What Government Campus Plan Does
What City Ordinances Require Sections 27 45(4), 27 45(6), 27 45(7e)
What City Ordinances Require Sections 27 45(4), 27 45(6), 27 45(7e)
- Construction and widened NW 2nd Avenue will intrude into Tree Protection Zone
- Places new buildings, utilities, and hardscape inside the Banyans’ Tree Protection Zone.
- Requires trenching, excavation, and root cutting in high‑risk areas.
- Fails to provide required protective radius for any of the five trees.
- Violates multiple sections of City’s own tree‑protection ordinance.
THE RESULT
Despite public messaging about a “Banyan Village,” the project’s design cannot be built without damaging or killing the Banyans. The City’s own rules and the project arborist say so.
Continue Learning
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Defining the Tree Protection Zone
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