Tree-cutting at Greenwood Cemetery property before possible zone change request prompts city stop-work order
Neighbor complaint prompts code enforcement investigation; city has no formal development request
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – The city of Bend has put a stop to a tree removal project near Greenwood Cemetery on NE 12th Street after a neighbor complaint. Stumps are all that's left from a dozen trees taken down earlier this week.
Resident Jeff Anderson said Friday, "I spend a lot of time walking my dog to the cemetery here, and two days ago, as I was walking through, there was a tree company here, and they were cutting down the trees behind us."
A sign attached to a tree indicates the city stopped work on the project after getting a complaint.
About a month ago neighbors received a letter saying the owner of Greenwood Cemetery wanted to change the land from public use to residential zoning.
Anderson said, "To us, that means they wish to develop something here."
Another neighborhood resident, Amber Clegg said, "There's really only one entry and exit to Highway 20, for example, and also to Franklin (Avenue). So to put something in that corner without having additional entry and exit points, I think would be a real concern."
The stop work notice was issued Wednesday by the city and placed on a tree in the area. Sun Country Engineering and Surveying confirmed to NewsChannel 21 that they were the team hired for the project.
A city representative told us the owner, Oregon Care Group LLC, did not have approval from the city to cut down the trees and called it an active code enforcement case that is still under investigation.
Several large trees still stand among the stumps at the cemetery, with neighbors making plans to try to save them.
Anderson said, "With our infrastructure, the roads -- we don't have sidewalks here. The influx in additional traffic that will put on our neighborhood here. And if any additional changes have to be made to the infrastructure, who's going to be responsible for paying for that?"
The concerned residents in the Orchard District plan to put together an informational flyer about the trees to distribute. The city says at this point - it's not aware of any plans for development in the area.
