News from the front - Archive

• Concerns raised over NEISD sports complex (4-16-07)
  Concerns have been raised over the massive tree destruction and high levels of impervious cover that Northeast ISD's new 80-acre sports complex will require.
• Tree clearing shocks McAllister park users (3-12-07)
  The surprise clearing of trees in one area of McAllister Park may have planted the seed for better cooperation and communication between major park users and the Parks and Recreation Department, officials said.
• Georgetown adopts heritage tree protection rules (2-13-07)
  A new ordinance passed by the Georgetown City Council prohibits removal of heritage trees to make way for new houses and businesses.
• Home builder gets reprieve on trees (1-11-07)
  Continental tells judge it's difficult to replant 30-acre site it cleared.
• City seeking a new Planning Commissioner (12-27-06)
  The City of San Antonio is currently seeking applicants to the San Antonio Planning Commission to fill a vacancy.
• Helotes creates Forestry Committee (12-14-06)
  Mayor Allan and the Helotes City Council instituted a Forestry Committee during the Thursday December 14, 2006 City Council meeting.
• City releases tree ordinance amendments (12-1-06)
  City officials officials have finally released tree ordinance amendments adopted by Council on November 2nd.
• Council votes no on clear-cutting (11-30-06)
  City Council voted down clear-cutting amendments to the tree ordinance after GSABA sent a letter to Council opposing its own amendments.
• New tree ordinance missing in action (11-20-06)
  The new San Antonio Tree Ordinance, which became effective on November 12th, has not been finished and is still being written.
• Helotes strengthens tree ordinance (11-10-06)
  City officials said they have taken a major step in helping protect area trees by passing a stricter and more comprehensive tree ordinance.
• Judge overturns $15.5 million fine for tree destruction (11-7-06)
  But Continental Homes must plant thousands of trees.
• Council slashes tree ordinance (11-3-06)
  Real estate developers, environmentalists weigh in on vote to remove protection for understory trees.
• Demo-GOP split is evident on the 'vested rights' issue (10-28-06)
  Bell blasts Perry's record, says governor in developers' pocket
• Research shows tree ordinance is working (10-12-06)
  A recent study shows that developments built according to San Antonio's tree preservation ordinance (TPO) have more trees.
• Jury fines developer $15.5 million (9-26-06)
  A jury fined Continental Homes of Texas $15.5 million for destroying nearly 16,000 protected trees at its Kallison Ranch project in Northwest Bexar County.
• Jury to decide lawsuit over tree ordinance (9-23-06)
  Testimony wrapped up Friday in a trial that could make or break the City's tree preservation ordinance.
• Dallas launches survey of city's trees (9-18-06)
  Dallas is raising funds for a major initiative: an inventory of all city trees, public and private. The tree census, expected to start in January, could cost up to $1 million.
• San Antonio to hire urban forester (9-7-06)
  Responding to the cTc's call for implementation of its Urban Forest Management Program, the City of San Antonio agreed to establish a new staff position for a Municipal Urban Forester.
• City creating major new tree sanctuary (8-31-06)
  Under the leadership of Mayor Phil Hardberger, San Antonio is buying hundreds of heavily wooded acres for a new City park.
• This East Side tree does its own watering (8-10-06)
  Experts baffled as to where the liquid comes from.
• City wins injunction against developer (7-19-06)
  San Antonio's right to protect its environmental health is at stake in a recent lawsuit against Continental Homes.
• Nuns saving part of UIW as urban forest (7-1-06)
  Up to 65 acres of pristine woodlands, where Native Americans and bison once roamed, will be preserved as an urban forest on the campus of the University of the Incarnate Word.
• Bad-air days now may come back to haunt us in '08 (7-1-06)
  Blame it on the weather. Blame it on the crowded freeways. Blame it on Houston. But no matter who's at fault, the San Antonio area is a big step closer to an unwanted spot on the nation's bad air list.
• Tree lovers battle state on road project (6-6-06)
  State plans to cut down huge trees beside Texas 16 to permit widening of the highway have drawn the ire of area residents, as well as a court challenge that has idled the chain saws for now.
• Council postpones tree ordinance vote (5-19-06)
  Mayor Hardberger told a crowd of environmentalists May 18th that Council will not vote on tree ordinance amendments until "late June or August".
• Tall, majestic cottonwoods, sycamores could face the ax (5-18-06)
  When developers gave the city a list of trees they believe shouldn't be included in a preservation ordinance, the cedar had strange company. On the hit list were cottonwoods and sycamores, majestic trees that can grow 100 feet tall.
• Citizens to be Heard on Tree Ordinance Amendments (5-18-06)
  On May 18th, citizens from across the City will come together to defend the health of their community and urban ecosystem.
• Developers vs. trees — or are they shrubs? (5-15-06)
  The thorny mesquite, the rambling persimmon and the sneeze-inducing ash juniper — prime examples of Texas's rugged natural legacy, or nuisances to be chopped down in the name of progress?
• Op-ed: Shore up the protection of native trees (5-14-06)
• Representative Leibowitz' Arbor Day Tree Planting (3-25-06)
• Amendments to be discussed at Council session (2-21-06)
• Special Public Hearing on new "grandfathering" ordinance (2-11-06)
• Residents upset over bulldozed heritage trees
• Austin saves heritage trees despite "grandfathering"
• Roddy ribs cTc (1-10-06)
• Council rejects grandfathering claim, enforces TPO (1-5-06)
  City Council sent a developer back to the drawing board to save heritage trees by denying an entitlement to ignore the tree ordinance.
• TPO amendments postponed until February (12-15-05)
• PowerPoint shown at City Council Public Hearing (12-2-05)
• Express-News story on City Council Hearing (12-2-05)
• Public Hearing on TPO amendments set for Thursday (11-29-05)
• Committee orders public hearing on TPO amendments (11-15-05)
• Planning Commission not told of heritage tree cuts (11-15-05)
• Urban Affairs Committee to hear Tree Ordinance amendments(11-14-05)
• Planning Commission approves Tree Ordinance cuts (11-9-05)
• Developers decimate site near Huebner Creek (10-16-05)
• Land clear-cut for Home Depot at Culebra & 1604 (6-28-05)