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The proposed "Nelson Meadow" subdivision is 4.8 acres of land located in southwestern Downers Grove between Blanchard Street on the north, Jefferson Avenue on the south, Brookbank Road on the west, and Carpenter Street on the east. Until the recent death of the property owner, this land had remained undivided since 1920 with one home and numerous mature trees.
A developer purchased the property and clear-cut almost all of the trees in April 2005. More than fifty mature trees were lost from the environment, and with them a loss of the benefits cited in a Villages recent ordinance: “Trees enhance and preserve the air quality… reduce noise… reduce topsoil erosion… reduce energy consumption… provide nesting areas for birds… which in turn assist in the control of insects… reduce storm water runoff… replenish ground water supplies… and… protect and increase property values.”
Most sadly, the neighborhood lost a line of eight mature black walnut trees right along the north side of Jefferson Avenue, on land that is proposed to be dedicated to the Village. Because the trees were on private property at that time, not on a public parkway, the Village stated it had no power to prevent the clear-cutting.
The neighborhood residents adjoining the proposed “Nelson Meadow” subdivision have organized their efforts, compiled constructive recommendations for the Village of Downers Grove, and testified at the Plan Commission hearing, concerning a number of aspects that threaten the existing character of the neighborhood. Among these recommendations are four concerning neighborhood trees:
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Preservation of the natural walking path that connects Brookbank Road south to Jefferson Avenue, and protection of the 18-25 mature trees on public parkway land that are proposed to be removed for street construction. See May 10, 2005 Village Council Workshop Minutes Excerpt and Brookbank Road R.O.W. Path and Treescape.
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Protection of two mature silver maple trees on the west side of Carpenter Street on public parkway land that are threatened by grading plans within the parkway and the critical root zones of those trees.
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Protection of twelve large mature black walnut trees on private property south of the proposed subdivision that are threatened by grading plans within the critical root zones of those trees. See Detention Pond Impact on Existing Trees and Pedestrian Path and Detention Pond Impact on Remaining Walnut Trees.
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Replacement of the lost treescape on the north side of Jefferson Avenue with more and larger trees than proposed, with a specific plan for the location of driveways and utilities to accommodate maximum tree placement. See Jefferson Avenue Treescape Buffer.
Downers Grove residents interested in tree preservation can help with this campaign in two ways:
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Continue to urge the members of the Village Council to bring forward for discussion the proposed ordinance for the protection of trees on private property that was tabled earlier in the year.
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Express to the members of the Village Council their support of the specific recommendations by the neighborhood residents adjoining the proposed “Nelson Meadow” development.
Only with thoughtful and widespread public support will the Village be able to successfully balance the public interest in the preservation of trees and green space with the developers’ interest in maximizing land utilization and profit. Additional public support is needed!