Save Decatur's Trees

Please consider signing this petition.

Open Letter to CSD — SAVE DECATUR SCHOOLS An Open Letter to the City Schools of Decatur Board of Education Dear Members of the City Schools of Decatur Board of Education,We write as community members who care deeply about the City Schools of Decatur. This is not a place anyone wanted to reach, but we feel compelled to call for changes in di...

Please come support the preservation of green space in honor of the legacy Beacon Hill community in Decatur, at the Historic Preservation Commission 6:30 p.m. at City Hall on Tuesday Feb. 24!

Call for Historic Designation of “Sacred Ground” in Downtown Decatur “This land is sacred to us because of the legacy and our forefathers and our ancestors. You can feel their spirit in it for us. The roots are not only the trees, but the people, the human roots that are fitted right here on this land," Decatur Day organizer Doris Sims Johnson. We call on the City ...

Decatur’s neighborhoods are defined by their trees, walkability, and character.
This proposal threatens all three.

Before any irreversible decisions are made, it’s worth taking a closer look at how this roundabout would impact tree canopy, neighborhood safety, and the long-term feel of our streets.

👉 Learn more here: https://decaturroundabout.com
Protect our trees. Protect our neighborhoods.

Stop the Decatur Roundabout GDOT is proposing a multi-lane roundabout and high-speed slip lane at Scott Blvd / E Ponce de Leon / E Parkwood Rd. This project threatens our neighborhood's safety, environment, and character. Join us in demanding better.

We've received some helpful clarifying information regarding the variance being voted on at the City Commission meeting. Apparently the variance request at Legacy Park for the tree ordinance is *only* with respect to the "canopy loss fee" which is a payment to the City tree bank -- in fact, the DHA is complying with plans that already have been approved. We do not want variance seekers to rely on replanting (we want developers to "plan for trees first" per the tree ordinance), but that compromise has already been struck and is not being revisited right now. We want to be accurate in our public communications, and did not mean to mislead or misinform.

To be clear, the hearing tomorrow is solely about waiving the payment and does not affect tree removal decisions.

As a reminder about the commission meetings, if you do have a public comment specific to the agenda items, you can speak during that part of the City Commission meeting. Any other unrelated comments must be given during the general public comment part of the meeting.

We hope to see many of you at the Rec Center on the 19th to support greenspace in downtown Decatur.

Hey Decatur Tree Friends,

There are two city projects that will directly affect Decatur's trees, the city's overall air quality and temperature, as well as equitable access to greenspace for those in affordable housing.

1. Legacy Park affordable housing tree variance -- hearing on Monday.

DHA would like to remove roughly 1.1 net acres of canopy without paying a canopy loss fee to build more affordable housing at Legacy, and get a variance from the tree ordinance to do so. The planning commission (nonbinding) recommends accepting the variance, but it is the City Commission who votes on it on Monday. The Tree Ordinance was meant to be abided by everyone, not contingent on what was being built and for whom.

We all strongly support affordable housing, and believe that we can do it WHILE protecting trees. Folks in affordable housing deserve green space as much or more than anyone else. There is plenty of space at Legacy to look at creative alternative designs to do BOTH. Looking at alternatives is the core approach of the tree ordinance itself, (ie "plan for trees first). This isn't an either/or situation of protecting the environment OR building affordable units -- we can do both: protect trees AND help those in affordable housing have greenery around them.

Send your comments to the City Commission or attend the hearing Monday. We know there is some sympathy to saving the trees for the residents there on the commission, and we need residents to get out and show support!

2. Save our downtown greenspace (the very last of it!)

CSD is moving forward quickly and quietly with plans to develop the only greenspace left downtown -- at Commerce and Trinity. Decaturish.com has published several op-eds about this, but we are going to need A LOT of voices to express support for saving this greenspace.

CSD hasn't released any enrollment data or held public meetings but is proceeding with design and outreach to selected persons around town.

There are many questions about why this project is moving forward in this manner. There are excellent alternative sites available, and the need for it at this time is not clear. Two years ago, CSD said there wasn't a need for this new pre-K, and enrollment has dropped since then. There's not a way to actually legally guarantee that pre-K slots go to folks who might need them most, even if they live next door. And there is much more space available on the Decatur High parking lot to expand the existing pre-K there -- more than five acres -- so that we don't have to lose our only greenspace remaining in downtown.

Access to greenspace is also a huge equity issue, and the bottom line is the voices of the people who live at Swanton Heights and the Wilson apartments should be prioritized. Again, we don't have to put equity and the environment against each other, we can, and should, do both.

If you know of anyone on the CSD or DHA board we would be interested in any insights as to what's going on behind the scenes.

You can email the school board at [email protected].

We hope to see many of you at the City Commission meeting next Monday (you can also email your public comments) and at the public meeting on Thursday the 19th when the city is taking public comment about the our public space in Decatur Square.

It's time to rally together in support of greenspace, ya'll. There ARE alternatives to developing the last remaining greenspace in downtown Decatur for an early childhood center. Those plans were initiative back in 2017, under a different superintendent. Times have changed, priorities (like preserving greenspace per the city's Master Plan) have been declared since that time.

It should be noted that DHA is already clearing away 56,585 square feet of tree canopy for its affordable housing project in Legacy Park for which it is requesting the tree canopy fee be waived. We are not suggesting that affordable housing is not necessary or important. We are merely pointing out that there is already a LOT of tree removal happening and want to urge the city and CSD to consider all of their development options before removing the last remaining greenspace in Decatur.

There's a Decatur Square Open House meeting on Thursday, September 19th at Decatur Rec Center. Please plan to come and express your support for preserving this greenspace and incorporating it into Decatur's downtown square as Downtown Neighbor's plan does:https://www.decaturga.com/community/page/decatur-square-open-house-meeting-0

Dear Decaturish - Decatur can keep greenspace at Trinity Place and Commerce Drive Given the size of the area, a partnership with all adjacent entities could provide for a passive urban park that would be a shared endeavor with and for residents, students, downtown workers, and seniors, with room for an early learning center as well!!

Poet Mary Oliver was a tree lover herself:

TikTok · JCPoetry 16.3K likes, 106 comments. “Replying to your dream has become reality 💜”

We all know it, but The Nature Conservancy's cool infographic can help us tree advocates "sell" our story!

Well this isn’t good…

This is outside Decatur, but the elimination of this greenspace will affect the greater community -- I apologize for the long post, but there's a lot of good info in here, and action items. Please make your voice heard:

A development scheme threatens DeKalb wild animals and their homes. Otters, turtles, warblers, fish, beaver, frogs, kingfishers, deer, wading birds, geese and wood ducks, muskrat, hawks and owls, bobcat and fox depend on what we do.

Together, let’s SAVE THEM!

A small remnant of wild land belongs to Mercer University Atlanta. Irreplaceable, undisturbed, hemmed in by streets and buildings, the complex of floodplain forest, shrub swamp, and beaver ponds raises the water table, irrigating woodland far around, purifying water, guarding against wildfire, and buffering stormwater.

If Mercer grants permission, DeKalb County will spend our tax money for PATH Foundation and Peachtree Creek Greenway to build two elevated concrete roads that would dissect the tract. The concrete roads would be two cars wide. Why permanently wreck valuable wildlife habitats? For “scenery” riders would swoosh past on bicycles! Without them being inconvenienced by cars, that is. PATH refuses to discuss a compromise (the Flowers Rd. route). Why? https://savehendersonmillcreek.org/objections/

1. Please sign the petition: https://savehendersonmillcreek.org/joinus/
2. Email/phone every DeKalb Commissioner. Give 3 reasons why you OPPOSE building the raised concrete roads of PATH and Peachtree Creek Greenway. Politely AND Firmly Tell Commissioners: NO! DO NOT authorize them. Instead, use Flowers Rd. Ask each Commissioner to write what s/he decides.
Commissioner
Staff
Lorraine Cochran-Johnson
Leah Davis
404-371-2899
[email protected]
Ted Terry
Kelly Cato
404-371-2159
[email protected]
Mereda Davis Johnson
Demetrius McCoy
404-371-2159
[email protected]
Steve Bradshaw
Robin Flieg
404-371-4749
[email protected]
Larry Johnson
Brandon Fields
404-371-2988
[email protected]
Michelle Long Spears
Caroline Enloe
404-371-2863
[email protected]
Robert Patrick
Tara Smith
404-371-2844
[email protected]
3. Also, email your comments to Teriya Mattox [email protected] .

As the forest ages, more individual birds, of more species, inhabit it. Floodplain forests have the highest nesting bird concentrations in the state and are the most important habitats for birds. Bird diversity doubles in spring and summer when Neotropical migrants (many are depleted species) which spend several months in the tropics return to northern parts of their ranges to breed. Forest-interior species must nest away from habitat edges. Eighty percent of wildlife species depend on habitats created by beaver, a keystone species. One oak tree may shelter 120 mammal species, 147 bird species, 60 species of amphibians and reptiles, and 257 species of invertebrates. Mammals from far and wide visit during drought. Temporary pools in small depressions without fish are important. Were fish present they would eat the eggs and young of salamanders and many frogs.

Intact floodplains are the highest priority habitat for preservation in the Piedmont region because of their importance to birds, bats, herpetofauna, and aquatic habitats. The South has lost an estimated half of its bottomland forests in 50 years. Forested wetlands are still suffering the most. Marshes rank second in losses. It has been difficult to make an economic case for preserving marshes, especially on a short-term, loss-benefit basis.

https://savehendersonmillcreek.org/
At the link above, have a look at the “Study Area” map. Direct habitat destruction. Clearcutting an area equivalent to 3.4 football fields with end zones (4.5 acres) would be required just for the Henderson Mill Creek concrete road (NOT including the Peachtree Creek Greenway concrete road). Who profits from hundreds of valuable hardwood sawlogs?

Altered hydrology. Removing vegetation, rutting delicate soil with heavy machines, developing upstream, and adding impervious surface area upslope would worsen siltation and exacerbate flood risk. Severe floods threaten human safety and property. Flooding for long periods during the breeding season can harm plant and animal reproduction.

Habitat fragmentation is one of the greatest threats to biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. Edge (or ecotone, where two habitat types meet, e.g., the boundary between a forest and a field) of the Henderson Mill Creek concrete road (again, NOT including the Peachtree Creek Greenway concrete road) would increase almost 2 miles. The ratio between the habitat’s boundary and its interior would increase. Remaining patches of forest would be smaller and more isolated. Reptiles and amphibians are particularly vulnerable. Reduced patch size affects area-sensitive birds and small mammals. An edge constitutes a particular habitat itself, and certain species thrive at these boundaries. Predators of bird eggs and nestlings are more abundant near edges. Breeding success is less in patches than in extensive stands. Birds in forest fragments are much more vulnerable than in continuous forest. Windiness and temperature affect the availability of food and nest site suitability for forest-interior birds. Bare concrete exposed to sun and wind would be a barrier to dispersal for food, cover, and mates; a heat island winding through and drawing moisture from the habitat; and an interface that would increase soil erosion.

Bikes are great. But not everywhere. The Silver Comet Trail and Beltline were built on abandoned rail roadbeds in dry upland. In this watery basin concrete roads for bikes would be inappropriate

PATH and Peachtree Creek Greenway are businesses trying to sell something. Following their advice has been likened to asking a car dealer if you need a car!

How are the paychecks at the “nonprofit” PATH? $ 227,251 was the median reportable compensation (W-2/1099-MISC/1099-NEC) of the four top officers, according to IRS Form 990 (2022).

So far, DeKalb Commissioners have spent $ 46,000 on a “study” of the Henderson Mill Creek proposal, apparently with NO environmental oversight! (A 2021 Peachtree Creek Greenway “study” was separate.) Is it not true that DeKalb has needs more compelling than to squander our tax money paving over nature?

Chromium, lead, nickel, cobalt, and mercury are readily found in cement. Concrete installation can contaminate streams and bodies of water with high concentrations of suspended solids and other chemicals. Poor air quality associated with the cement manufacturing industry is receiving attention because of its particulate concentration, which causes major damage to leaves and hinders the growth and development of horticultural plants. Cement industry-derived pollutants play multiple roles in stimulating abiotic stress responses in plants. Cement making generates 8% of atmospheric carbon dioxide.

You can walk the unmarked 2 ½ -foot wide dirt footpath in the floodplain forest as-is, now. To explore, at 2877 Brandywine Rd., Atlanta 30341, from the parking lot behind the building, step into the woods.

Or, from Shallowford Rd. take the I-85 frontage road just past Regal Hollywood cinema. Turn right on the first driveway to 3355 Northeast Expressway Access Rd NE, Atlanta 30341. At the rear of the parking area, look through the row of tall pines for the beaver ponds. At this approach there is no footpath. Getting closer means wading through brush.

You’ll want to wear drab clothes and shoes that can get muddy. Binoculars and a folding beach chair are handy. Animals see you first, but when you’re still and quiet, they go back to what they were doing. Here is natural wild land. It is not a park. Not a dog park. Kudzu festoons some trees. The periphery is littered here and there. Absence of human disturbance enriches the place with wildlife.

Animals in their burrows. Crushed beneath bulldozers.
DeKalb/PATH/Peachtree Creek Greenway. Anti-nature. Anti-environment.
Unnecessary. Bureaucratic boondoggles.

Save Henderson Mill Creek The PATH Foundation and Dekalb County are planning to build a concrete bike road through the floodplain/wetlands surrounding Henderson Mill Creek.