Council voices support for Pine Knoll Vista residents; expresses need for conservation districts

On Tuesday, concerned residents of the Pine Knoll Vista neighborhood spoke to the Council about a company that has been clear cutting trees in their community and tearing up public streets with large tractor trailer loads.

According to Pine Knoll Vista Neighborhood President LaShaun Harris, the logging began in February on private property and has been disturbing residents with clear cutting practices ever since.

“We heard trucks and heard trees falling,” Harris said. “We wanted to know what was going on. We were astonished to see that logging was going on. We called 311 and no one knew what was going on. It’s frightening to see 30 acres of pine trees gone.”

Harris urged the Council to consider legislation to prevent clear cutting practices within the city limits or to at least regulate the activity. Beyond the disturbance it’s caused the neighborhood, the logging activity, she said, has left behind a mess, with fallen trees that weren’t taken and increased erosion in the area. She fears this is negatively impacting the quality of life and property value of people who have lived in the area for generations.

Several more residents spoke to how they need help from the City to get out in front of this problem. Council President Pro Tem William Parker, who represents the district, said he has been working with residents on this issue and recently visited the area in question.

“The residents were meeting in the park and the logging truck passed. There was a confrontation that happened when I was out there. I was concerned about our safety because it got heated,” Parker said.

All the Councilors who spoke voiced support for the residents and the need to pass an ordinance preventing similar situations from happening in the future.

“I would be concerned as well about the wild life,” Councilor Steven Hoyt said. “It would seem to me that the EPA would be concerned that they’re destroying natural resources. This is a problem for the city of Birmingham. Once you remove those trees, the water is free flowing. What have they done to prevent any further erosion. These are issues I think the city can help with. I’m very concerned. I will be helping with this fight.”

Since the clear cutting is happening on private property, residents are calling for the practice to be regulated in the future. While the Council did pass a robust storm water protection ordinance earlier this year, there is still a need to address clear cutting practices, several Councilors said.

“It should be fairly easy for us to create a simple permitting process so people can’t harvest timber without a permit,” Councilor Darrell O’Quinn said. “The city has considered creating conservation districts. That’s something we are all interested in…. I would encourage our Planning, Engineering and Permitting Department to reengage in the conservation districts concept if that isn’t already proceeding.”