4704 Fairway Hills Dr - Email re: TreesTim Plath
From: Dave Westermayer
Sent: Tuesday, August 23, 2011 10:25 AM
To: 'Karin Desrocher'
Cc: Tim Plath
Subject: RE: property trees A
Mr. & Mrs. Desrocher,
My apologies for not getting back to you sooner. After your previous email our maintenance staff reviewed the site
once again taking into account your concerns and requests. They have come to the conclusion that they are willing to
leave all three trees for now. However, if we receive complaints about the branches blocking the street light in the
future we will likely have no choice but to remove the trees. I hope you will find this compromise acceptable.
I would also like to thank you for your efforts in trimming the lower portion of the trees in order to comply with our
Boulevard Sight Distance Clear Zone requirements. I will be mailing you a letter within the next few days stating that
this issue has been resolved for now so you have something for your records. If you have any questions regarding these
matters either now or in the future please don't hesitate to contact me.
Thanks again for your assistance in resolving this matter!
Dave Westermayer
Engineering Technician
City of Eagan
651 - 675 -5641
dwestermaver(a citvofeagan.com
Please consider the environment before printing this email.
From: Karin Desrocher [mailto:Kdesrocher @comcast.net]
Sent: Monday, August 15, 2011 8:42 PM
To: Dave Westermayer
Subject: Re: property trees A
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Mr. Westermayer,
Thank you for the contact. We understand that you need to have resolution on this issue however, we have been quite
distraught over the possible loss of the trees and, did not want to make a hasty decision. Sorry for the delay.
We do understand your position that the trees have the possibilty of boulevard site obstruction, and are not properly
lighting the street, as desired.
As for the lighting, we first do ask, if it has not already been done, to observe the lighting at night. We have walked this
neighborhood and others nearby at night and do not notice much difference between the light getting out to the street.
Obviously there is blocking of the light in the direction of our house, but have no need to light into our yard.
It does not sound like we have much options to comply with the city's sight clearance issue. We do ask if the city could
look at this particular turn, and the very minimal amount of traffic that is affected by this corner. It is a T with a very short
dead -end street. Would having neighbors signiture's make a difference?
With all this being said, if there is no chance of a situaltion that will allow us to keep the 3 trees, our preference would be
to have the city cut down the 2 trees, with us keeping the 3rd trimmed. We are appreciative of the offer to take down the
trees, as money is tight and we do not have extra for a large landscaping project at this time.
Again, sorry for the delay in reponse.
Karin and Pete Desrocher
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Original Message
From: Dave Westermayer
To: 'Karin Desrocher'
Cc: Tim Plath
Sent: Monday, August 15, 2011 3:50 PM
Subject: FW: property trees
Dear Mr. & Mrs. Desrocher,
As you can see by the email below, it has been several weeks since we last communicated. I'm wondering if you've
made a decision yet regarding the offer to allow the City to remove the trees in your front yard? I must be honest and
let you know that two of the three trees are actually located within City street right -of -way. What this means is that if
we determine that the trees are creating a safety hazard (which we have) we can remove them. While our first
preference is always to work with the property owner, our job is to look out for the overall welfare and safety of the
traveling public when making our decisions. I hope you can understand and respect our position. Please let me know
as soon as possible what your final decision is as we need to resolve this issue soon.
Again, thank you for your understanding and cooperation in resolving this matter.
Dave Westermayer
Engineering Technician
City of Eagan
651 - 675 -5641
dwestermayer(a�cityofeaoan.com
Please consider the environment before printing this email.
From: Dave Westermayer
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2011 8:37 AM
To: 'Karin Desrocher'
Cc: Tim Plath
Subject: RE: property trees
Mr. & Mrs. Desrocher,
Thank you for sharing the information as well as your concerns regarding the trees in your front yard. City staff,
including the City Forester reviewed the site once again yesterday and came to the following conclusion. There is no
way to trim the trees that would allow the streetlight to function properly and illuminate the intersection as designed.
The City Forester also feels that the trees are nearing the end of their life. The trees are growing so close together that
the removal of any affects them all and their appearance would not be good. In addition, in order to comply with both
the boulevard sight obstruction issue at ground level and the street light clearance issue above, you will need to
remove all branches on the street sides up past the top of the light.
Again, I understand your concerns and reasons for wanting to keep the trees but I truly believe the best option in this
situation is to remove all 3 trees and start over with new trees. This opinion is not only my own but as mentioned
above, shared by all City staff members who have visited the site and are familiar with the situation.
With that said, I would like to offer the following compromise, the City is willing to take down all three trees and
dispose of them for you at no additional cost to you. You would then be responsible to remove the stumps and cover
the costs of new trees if you choose to replant. It would be in everyone's best interest if you plant new trees to plant
them further from the street, as long as they don't conflict with the gas easement running through your yard.
Please consider our offer and let me know at your earliest convenience if you are agreeable to this. City crews will not
do any work until we hear back from you. If you have additional questions or ideas please feel free to contact me.
Thanks again for your understanding and cooperation with this matter,
Dave Westermayer
Engineering Technician
City of Eagan
651- 675 -5641
dwestermayer(�cityofeagan.com
Please consider the environment before printing this email.
From: Karin Desrocher [ mailto:KdesrocherOcomcast.neti
Sent: Sunday, July 24, 2011 1:15 PM
To: Dave Westermayer
Subject: property trees
Mr. Westermayer,
We woud like to touch base with you on the situation of the mature trees on our property at 4704 Fairway Hills Drive
which are obstructing the site on the roadway, requiring trimming or removal.
We have received the second letter as well, stating that just trimming may not be satisfatory. We want to let you know
that we have started tthe process of trimming up the trees with the understanding that the trees may still need to come
down. We are willing to take that chance and expense - if there is any chance of saving these trees. They were planted
by the builder as part of the original landscaping and had earned an landscape award for the arrangement, at the time.
With very few large trees in our yard, we are very attached to them.
We are hopefull that keeping the trees trimmed, and perhaps some strategic trimming of higher branches for the
streetlight may be enough to save them. Please let us know if there is anything else we can do.
Thank you,
Pete Desrocher
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