Save Austin's Gentle Giant Trees
Todd W. Shaw, Chair, Austin Planning Commission and Linda H. Guerrero, Chair, Austin Environmental Commission
Fast-moving development in Austin threatens what makes this City special - our beautiful green canopy of trees. Our gentle giants - the oaks, pecans, cottonwoods, sycamores, cypress, and others - keep us cool, take in carbon dioxide, and exhale oxygen for us to breathe!
In North West Austin, three majestic Cottonwoods around 65 feet tall stand like welcoming friends at the top of a cul de sac where children play. They are in danger of being cut down soon!
You can help save the Crown Court Cottonwoods and send a strong message of protection for all of Austin's green tree canopy. Please sign this petition today! Then, share it with your friends so Austin's Environmental and Planning Commissions will hear our voices.
These healthy neighborhood trees, our gentle giant Cottonwood friends protect the health and well-being of the families that live in the neighborhood and love them. In the near future, a large area of land behind the children's homes is planned for development. The trees on their street should be left standing so there is some green relief from this upcoming development.
The Environmental Commission and Planning Commission have the power to save the Crown Court Cottonwoods.
Join other Austinites in urging the Commissioners to save the trees. More examination of the Crown Court Cottonwoods would provide a more objective analysis of their condition.
Please help save the Crown Court Cottonwoods and all of Austin’s vital green canopy that protects us, keeps us cool, and helps us breathe.
Sign the petition today and share it with your friends.
Thank you.
PS Trees also reduce the urban heat island effect, remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and provide habitat for wildlife in the great connected web of life.
Petition by
To:
Todd W. Shaw, Chair, Austin Planning Commission and Linda H. Guerrero, Chair, Austin Environmental Commission
From:
[Your Name]
Fast-moving development in Austin threatens what makes this City special - our beautiful green canopy of trees. Our gentle giants - the oaks, pecans, cottonwoods, sycamores, cypress, and others - keep us cool, take in carbon dioxide, and exhale oxygen for us to breathe!
In North West Austin, three majestic Cottonwoods around 65 feet tall stand like welcoming friends at the top of a cul de sac where children play at Villa Park and Crown Court in 78729.
These healthy neighborhood trees, our gentle giant friends protect the health and well-being of the families that live in the neighborhood and love them. In the near future, a large area of land behind the children's homes is planned for development. The trees on their street should be left standing so there is some green relief from this upcoming development.
These Cottonwoods are perfectly healthy. Any decision to cut them down should be overturned. The Environmental Commission and the Planning Commission have the power to save the Crown Court Cottonwoods.
More examination of the Crown Court Cottonwoods would provide a more objective analysis of their condition. The City arborist must be empowered to contact an expert in sonic tomography with quite reasonable rates.
Removing these large cooling contributors would turn up the urban heat island effect.
In 2001, Austin City Council in its wisdom created a committee called the Heat Island ReductionTask Force. In 2006, the City created the Tree Task Force. The resolutions and policies that came out of those committees aimed for greater tree preservation, policies that must continue to be enforced for the benefit of all of Austin's communities and to help us reach our 2020 Austin Community Climate Plan goals.
Along with cooling the urban heat island effect and removing carbon from the atmosphere, urban trees help stop climate change by removing carbon dioxide from the air, storing carbon in the trees and soil, and releasing oxygen into the atmosphere. The Human Health and Landscape Laboratory documents how trees provide many benefits to individuals and communities every day.
Planning Commission and Environmental Commission: The many Austinites who care about and depend upon these trees for community health and well-being urge you to overrule the initial decision, recommend additional examination of the trees, and keep these gentle giants, our friends.
Please help protect the Crown Court Cottonwoods and all of Austin’s vital green canopy that protect us, keep us cool, and help us breathe.
Thank you.