South County landowner chops 100 oak trees
October 17, 2014
A rural Arroyo Grande landowner has recently cut down approximately 100 oak trees on his property, angering neighbors about the devastation of nature. [New Times]
Nick Stephenson the proprietor of Arroyo Grande’s Pro-Tech Landscape Management, owns a 50-acre parcel near Corbett Canyon Road. Stephenson plans to plant a lemon grove on the property, and is thus chopping down oak trees and building a road, according to San Luis Obispo County Code Enforcement Supervisor Art Trinidade.
Stephenson is within his rights to do so, Trinidade said. He does not even need a permit, so long as he moves less than 50 cubic yards of material.
The engineer’s report on the project states the he is only moving 41 cubic yards, Trinidade said.
In addition to reporting the project to regulatory officials, neighbors are calling for the county to adopt an ordinance protecting inland oak trees. No such ordinance is on the books.
County Supervisor Adam Hill, whose district includes Stephenson’s property, said the county has discussed an inland oak tree ordinance for years, but the issue has taken a back seat to drought-related items.
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