Church will remove ficus trees

Deirdre Newman

Prince of Peace school officials are extending an olive branch to

their neighborhood by deciding to remove ficus trees along Baker

Street, as neighbors have asked.

These trees, one of three groves of ficus trees on the school and

church property, were planted without city approval.

On Dec. 8, the Planning Commission allowed the church to keep the

trees along Baker Street because school officials agreed not to hold

the city liable for any damages the trees may cause.

The relief of Prince of Peace officials at the decision was

followed by a desire to make peace with the neighbors, who have

adamantly opposed the trees, school administrator Keith Kerslake

said. So the church and school are embarking on a campaign to raise

$10,000 to replace the ficus trees with a variety of tree known as

yellowwood or podocarpus.

Church officials say their ficus remorse was the result of

contemplative thought and prayer. A letter that went out to school

parents quoted verses from the Bible to explain the about-face.

“We think it’s a God-honoring [decision] to remove them,” Kerslake

said. “We think we should reach out in peace, and that’s what we’re

going to do.”

Neighbor Gordon Pate, one of the most vocal opponents of all the

ficus trees, said he is glad to see the school finally take action to

replace some of the ficus trees. He would like to see church

officials continue in the same spirit by removing the ficus trees

along Mesa Verde Drive and along a block wall fence that separates

the church property from Ceylon Drive.

“The only objection we have ever had is that the ficus trees are

such a pervasive, dangerous tree,” Pate said.

In January 1999, the Planning Commission approved an application

that allowed the Prince of Peace church to put in four modular

buildings for a school. The commission required the planting of

screening trees and shrubs between the buildings and the Baker Street

property line.

The church planted 30 ficus trees without city approval along a

portion of Baker Street. It also planted 35 trees on Mesa Verde Drive

East and 52 along Ceylon Drive. After the trees were planted, some

neighbors voiced their concerns that the tree roots would damage city

sidewalks and pose hazards to pedestrians. These neighbors wanted the

trees removed. Instead, church officials installed root barriers.

Kerslake said church officials haven’t made any decisions yet

about the trees on Mesa Verde Drive. Those are set farther back from

the ones on Baker Street and were planted more recently, so there is

more time to deal with them, Kerslake said.

“Our desire always has been, although it may not have been

perceived that way, to be a good neighbor,” Kerslake said. “And we’ll

continue in that vein.”