MENLO PARK, California. (KGO) — In Menlo Park, some residents are frustrated with the removal of dangerous trees. So a woman takes matters into her own hands.
During Tuesday’s storm, Kimberly LeMieux watched from her home office as an 80-foot-tall sequoia fell in her backyard.
“It was terrifying to sit exactly 30 feet from where the tree fell and know that it could be one of those trees over there,” LeMieux said.
Your property is between an acre with 100 trees on one side and 48 on the other.
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“I think what came to mind is what I’ve had in my head for over 20 years: These trees don’t belong here,” LeMieux said.
For years she has made it clear that large trees in the neighborhood are not healthy or unstable.
“Sequoias are wonderful in the forest, and they belong in cold, foggy climates, not in close urban neighborhoods,” LeMieux said.
At one point, LeMieux served on the Menlo Park Heritage Tree Task Force to facilitate the process of applying for a felling permit. But she says big trees are now protected by strict city ordinances, so she’s creating her own task force.
“So I’m organizing a group of Menlo Park citizens who have the same concerns as me, and we’re going to take them to the city council,” LeMieux said.
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She hopes the city will listen.
“I think times have changed. I think people are realizing now, with climate change and drought concerns, that we need to be much more conscious of the type of landscape we are planting,” LeMieux said.
One doesn’t have to travel far on the peninsula to find tree crews continuing to clean up after recent storms.
During last Tuesday’s storm, two trees fell in Shirley Chiu’s backyard in Menlo Park.
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“The fence was like lifted in the air and I didn’t notice the tree until I came out, and luckily they fell down the side of the fence,” Chiu said.
A year and a half ago, after a six-month process, she received approval to remove three diseased trees.
“My neighbor’s house, they were much closer to the trees than mine. And I’m concerned for their safety, and you know their children, their pets, and then their belongings,” Chiu said.
She’s not taking any chances now. Chiu said after some persuasion, the city of Menlo Park gave her an emergency permit to have two more removed.
“Let’s cut it down and keep everyone safe. And if you want me to plant something else, I will plant something else,” Chiu said.
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