Anna Maria city commissioners might favor removal of six or seven Australian pines in the city-owned Gulf Park, but residents are expressing opposition to removal in an informal vote at the Village Cafe at Rosedale on Pine Avenue.
The vote on Sept. 27 showed 104 people favor retaining the trees, and two people voted to remove the trees.
At the same time, Commissioner Dale Woodland said he’s heard nothing but opposition to removing the trees.
“I’ve gotten a lot of phone calls and, so far, 100 percent of the people are against removing the mature Australian pines” from Gulf Park, he said.
Woodland cautioned that removal of the pines is not a done deal.
When public works director George McKay approached commissioners at their Sept. 8 meeting about removal of the pines under a master plan for the park, commissioners asked McKay to get input from residents on Cedar and Willow avenues and go back to the commission.
Australian pines are considered a non-native, invasive species by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, which in 2003 issued an order that local governments must remove the trees from public property “where possible.”
Commissioner Jo Ann Mattick said she has yet to receive any phone calls — positive or negative — on the trees.
“I did have one former member of the environmental education and enhancement committee tell me she did not favor removing the pines, but that’s been it,” Mattick said.
McKay said he recently mailed questionnaires on the issue to Cedar and Willow avenue residents. He plans to present his findings at the Oct. 31 commission meeting.
I think Anna Maria city commissioners should think twice before destroying a pristine natural area of the Island. Many homeowners are not here now and are probably not aware of what the plans are. I have always felt so grateful for the natural beauty of that area and have been enjoying the walk and pines for more than 3o years, Please, Anna Maria residents do not let these trees be removed or this beautiful area covered with decking, asphalt, public toilets or any other “creative” planning.
Way to go Anna Maria Islanders! The more we express opposition to removal of Australian pines, the less our pines will be targeted for extermination – Friends of the Pines http://www.australianpines.org