We are petitioning to prevent the current tree cutting and removal project in the Towns of Crescent Park that is scheduled for the week of 7/26/2021. We respectfully request the signatures from current homeowners in the TCP Community who are in support of our efforts.

A licensed arborist assessed the community's trees on Saturday, July 17, 2021. She offered to return with a second arborist to meet with the community. What we have been told by Access Management about the need for tree pruning and removal is inaccurate, and many of the concerns leading to this project's approval have been misunderstood. Furthermore, the project will have unintended negative consequences, including water retention, soil erosion, and higher long-term costs. These are the details of the arborist's findings:

Tree Removal

- None of the trees need to be removed, except for one small tree growing on top of the retention wall. None are diseased or dying, and none of their roots currently pose a structural threat. The cherry and redbud trees against the back section (facing Herodian) are smaller trees that remain an adequate size for where they were planted.

- The absence of some of the trees that are currently slated for removal will do more immediate harm than good. The two trees marked for removal at 2443 Crescent Park Court are not a threat to the house's structure, and removing them will cause the corner/side yard to flood and regularly retain stagnant water. The land dips down here and it's the trees' roots that soak up the rainwater. The trees in this spot are self-pruning, and the lower branches can be pruned off without needing to remove the trees. These trees will continue to grow upward towards the light and not towards the house, which is why small, leafless branches can be seen facing the house.

- The trees' roots serve to hold the soil in place and soak up water. Removing the roots will lead to flooding, water retention, poor grass growth, and soil erosion due to rainwater.

- The roots throughout the dog park/community area soak up rainwater. If these roots are removed, that entire area will be washed out within five years. No grass will grow there because the soil will be eroded away without roots to hold it in place.

- Tree roots are not aggressive and do not harm intact pipes. Any tree that interferes with a water pipe indicates that the pipe was already leaking, which is how the roots found the water. Once a root meets resistance, it generally stops.

- None of the trees are causing major issues with the sidewalks. In cases of the minor disruptions, we were advised that there are ways to replace a sidewalk slab to arch over the roots, which would be far cheaper than tree removal.

- We were told that many landscaping companies will suggest large and unnecessary projects involving trees because it generate more income as a big one-time project.

Pruning

- The trees can be pruned every 3-5 years to reduce shock to the tree and maintain healthy structure, but this should only be done by a licensed arborist or a landscaping company that has one on board to oversee the project. The total pruning should only impact less than 25% of the overall canopy. Very specific things must be done in order to ensure that the trees do not become infected or killed due to pruning. Unnecessary pruning can lead to a myriad of diseases, pests, and fungal infections which then lead to safety threats and costly removal projects.

Vermin Control and Shrubbery

- The biggest threat of vermin comes from the English Ivy that grows on the ground throughout the community. Rats and rodents prefer to live in English Ivy, and burrow under the sidewalks. The vermin (including insects) that commonly invade our homes do not live in oaks or maples, but do live in the shrubbery that the project aims to expand. Pruning trees to enhance the shrubbery will not address this issue.

Grass and Landscaping

- We currently have Bermuda grass, which is not ideal for this location, and is one reason that it is sparse. There are other kinds of low-cost grass seed (we were provided suggestions) that would grow much better here. Removing tree roots will lead to entire areas being washed away. Additionally, not addressing the type of grass and acidity levels of the soil will make adding irrigation a futile endeavor.

- The current landscaping company uses pine straw instead of mulch. Pine straw is native to the Carolinas and coastal areas, and not to Atlanta. It is highly acidic, which is why we don't have grass or other naturally flourishing plants in those areas. Mulch can be more expensive, but we were told there are also options for free mulch in Atlanta.

- While grass does not grow directly up to trees, it can still grow under the canopy if given the right species of grass and a non-acidic environment with the right soil free of pine straw.

- The landscaping company has placed tropical plants in our traffic circle area. We were told that many companies do this because they require more water, regular maintenance, and have to be replaced seasonally. That means higher cost for the homeowners. We used to have frost-hardy plants that lasted throughout multiple seasons.

In conclusion, our oak and maple trees are healthy, strong, and appropriate for the locations in which they were planted. They are not posing threats to our foundations, pipes, grass, or encouraging the vermin population. This project will have a direct negative impact on our property values and HOA funds. This is a time-sensitive issue, and we respectfully request your signature to halt the project. Please sign if you are in favor of a more thorough assessment and discussion with wider community involvement.