ROCKLEDGE, Fla. – After years of debating whether or not to trim trees, Brevard County could finally come through with those polarizing plans.
At a county commission meeting Tuesday night, director Marc Bernath said as soon as next week, public works would like to start trimming 61 of the old trees — 15 of them severely — so that the clearance over Rockledge Drive is at least 14 feet.
Bernath told commissioners that on some parts of the scenic route, school busses and garbage trucks have to go around the canopy and drive on the wrong side of the road.
“All actions will be minimal in accordance with regulations and required for safety while also ensuring that the character and the nature of Rockledge Drive are preserved to the greatest extent possible for a win-win,” the public works director said.
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Bernath said in the last 10 years, there have been four crashes caused by the trees.
At the commission meeting, most neighbors addressing commissioners continued to be opposed to the tree trimming.
“You are not trimming that tree,” Grover Gregory said. “You are cutting it off. You are killing that tree.”
Steve Kennedy was in the minority and spoke in favor of tree trimming.
“I have seen those trees grow out of maintenance,” he said. “And they’re beautiful trees, but when safety is a concern, when a 9-foot clearance with a fire truck with only one way in, it’s not going to work. And you all know that.”
A county spokesperson clarified that a legal response from neighbors would delay plans to start trimming as soon as next week.
The county also said the contractors would have to be ready to start the work.
A date is currently not set.
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