NEWS ALERT: Oak Tree Removal for Library Rattles Some Residents

  • One of two oaks which were uprooted on the future site of the Frazier Park Library. Eight larger oaks remain. [Mountain Enterprise photo]

    One of two oaks which were uprooted on the future site of the Frazier Park Library. Eight larger oaks remain. [Mountain Enterprise photo]

FRAZIER PARK, Calif. (Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2009, 5:30 p.m.)—Frazier Park resident Gary Sherfey came in to the newspaper office concerned about oak trees being "ripped out of the ground" at the library construction site.

When our photographer arrived at the site, other residents along the south side of the site were on their decks watching the work being supervised by contractor Tilton Pacific Construction.

The smaller two of ten oaks on the property had been taken down, as well as numerous Trees of Heaven, which are considered invasive by biologists.

Kern County Director of Libraries Diane Duquette said via telephone that, "diseased and damaged trees could be removed," and the specifics are indicated in California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) documents on file for the project.

According to Section 1.10.10 of the Land Use, Open Space, and Conservation Element of the Kern County General Plan: "Development parcels containing oak woodlands are subject to a minimum canopy coverage retention standard of thirty percent (30%). The consultant shall include recommendations regarding thinning and diseased tree removal in conjunction with the discretionary project."

Workers at the site indicated that they were finished with the tree removal and that no other oak trees would be removed.

The site has been completely fenced off for safety during construction.

This is part of the October 02, 2009 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.

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