Arborist has a say on oak’s fate: Report could save old tree in the path of light-rail project
A 60-foot Oregon white oak has been at the center of a debate in Milwaukie over the look of a TriMet light-rail line through the city.
The city of Milwaukie will hire an arborist to determine if the 60-foot Oregon white oak in Kronberg Park is healthy enough to survive light-rail bridge construction.
The tree was going to be removed to make way for the bridge project that is part of the Portland-to-Milwaukie light-rail work, but citizens came forward with an alternate arborist report.
Milwaukie City Manager Bill Monahan will select an arborist to deliver a report by Feb. 17. TriMet plans to begin rail construction activities in Kronberg Park, and enacting a plan to protect the tree, if required, on March 1.
“The city and TriMet are working with local residents in the selection of the arborist,” said Milwaukie spokesman Grady Wheeler. “The arborist’s report will not only weigh the biological health of the tree, but just as importantly, whether the tree poses a risk to personal safety or property, as it has been determined the city is liable for any harm or damage the tree creates.”
“This is a mighty good compromise,” said Councilor Dave Hedges. “If the tree is savable, I thought it should be saved.”
The process was put into motion when City Council made Milwaukie’s final decision on the Kellogg Bridge land-use application at its regularly scheduled meeting on Jan. 17. Milwaukie’s elected officials, acting without Mayor Jeremy Ferguson who stepped aside because he is employed by TriMet, unanimously voted 4-0 to affirm the Planning Commission’s approval of the bridge with revised findings and conditions of approval specific to TriMet’s use of Kronberg Park for construction staging.
If the arborist determines the oak is healthy enough to survive construction and all possible safety issues can be addressed, TriMet will be required to take reasonable and necessary measures to protect it from harm during construction.
If the arborist recommends removal of the oak, the city is requiring that TriMet reuse wood from the tree in or near Kronberg Park. Also, TriMet would have to plant 24 trees and 116 shrubs in Kronberg Park — primarily along the bank of the Kellogg Lake — to mitigate for the loss of the tree.
That also doesn’t include other mitigation plantings required in the area for bridge construction impacts.
