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• • <br />replace large diameter trees. Developers want to save trees because trees increase the value <br />of the lots and that makes him happy. This ordinance is cloaked in tree preservation, but it <br />is really more government regulation versus private property rights. <br />Peter Robinson, 315 Greytwig Road, displayed photos of Laurelwood lots before <br />development (no trees) and how they look currently (after Laurel planted trees in the front <br />yards of the houses) to emphasize that tree -planting is a good thing for developers to do. <br />The advantage to planting versus saving trees, he said, is that they are placed where a home- <br />owner would want a tree. Regarding photos he displayed of road rights-of-way with no <br />trees, he suggested that developers be permitted and encouraged to plant along the roads to <br />create a lovely tree scape. He submitted that existing trees may not survive under the new <br />regulations and he believed private individuals will make better decisions than government. <br />He recommended that the County plant trees in the rights-of-way. <br />Chairman Stanbridge mentioned reasons (infrastructure and safety factors) why <br />Public Works does not plant trees in rights-of-way, and Mr. Robinson pointed out that the <br />Board has the ability to overrule the Director of Public Works. <br />Public Works Director James Davis explained that right-of-way demands are <br />increasing tremendously with new technology. The Thoroughfare Plan Right -of -Way is not <br />only for road purposes but also for all infrastructure, including water, sewer, possibly gas, <br />electric, telephone, and fiber optic cables. Road widening is foreseen as well as increases <br />in utility services. Mr. Robinson's placement of trees has been appropriate but it is not a <br />good investment to plant trees where utilities need to go and where roads need to be <br />widened. Director Davis tries to use discretion and good design practices. In 1995 the <br />Department of Transportation published a manual for planting vegetation and trees in the <br />rights-of-way. <br />Commissioner Adams understood Mr. Robinson's feeling that the multitude always <br />July 9, 2002 <br />45 <br />