×

City To Remove West Third Street Oak Trees

City officials will be removing all 43 oak trees along West Third Street in Jamestown due to safety concerns because of the 100-year-old trees toppling down during wind storms. City officials will start removing the trees next week. P-J photo by Dennis Phillips

The West Third Street tree canopy is coming down.

On Thursday during a special meeting of the Jamestown Parks, Recreation & Conservation Commission, Dan Stone, city arborist, announced the decision that all 43 oak trees, most of them more than 100 years old, will be removed starting next week. He said during the wind storm Nov. 15, two more of the oak trees, with some of them as tall as 150 to 200 feet tall, were blown down, with one landing on a residential garage. In October 2019, a large oak toppled down, with portions of the tree landing on a residential house.

“It’s time for us to remove the 43 remaining oak trees on West Third Street in town,” Stone said. “I cannot make 100-year-old oak trees have roots that will sustain them any longer. As a precaution to public safety, I see them as a liability. We need to address this sooner rather than later.”

Stone said since the wind storm last month, he has been contacting the residents along West Third Street about the potential danger the oak trees present and the possibility that they will need to be cut down.

“It’s been a mixed bag of acceptance. Some people are upset about it, but they are understanding of what is going on and what we are dealing with,” he said.

Stone said in the spring city officials will look to replant trees along West Third Street so a new “tree canopy” can be created. He said the new trees will have a maximum height of around 50 to 55 feet, which will be smaller than the current oaks.

See tomorrow’s edition for complete coverage.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today