Demolition, trees in Rehoboth; loss of Lewes cottonwood

A reader wrote recently about the high number of demolitions in Rehoboth Beach. He decried the loss of the older houses but also worried about how many trees are lost in the process.

Liz Lingo, who administers Rehoboth's tree ordinance, said she's heard similar concerns expressed.

"We protect every tree during demolition," she said. "Until we have new house plans for a lot, we won't issue any tree-removal permits. That comes with building a new home. We lay the plans for the new home over the site plan with existing trees identified. Contractors do work to keep centerpiece trees. But this is urban construction, and we know we will lose trees. We place special importance on trees that are native species specimens."

Lingo said problems often arise when houses situated on a double lot are demolished. Then, she said, the next move is usually to place a house on each of the smaller lots created in the process. "The existing house is often in the middle of those double lots with trees likely around the outside of the lot. When builders go to put in a basement or foundation, the overdig can make it tough to preserve trees.

"The spirit of our code is to make improvements and preserve as many healthy, valuable trees as you can," she said. "We certainly don't want a heat pump placed over a 100-year-old oak tree. We work with builders to keep as many good trees as we can. Of course, some trees aren't as nice as they first look. There might be a big hole in the back. We examine them very carefully."

Lingo mentioned a new home built on Lake Avenue, along Silver Lake. "There was a big, healthy sycamore there. We worked with the owner and builder to pop the house back a few feet to save the tree. With setbacks and other requirements, it often requires lots of maneuvering. We lost a few big trees in that situation, but the owner used a private arborist to select the trees that were the best to keep and the most likely to survive."

There has been one surprise in her work: "The most applications for tree removals are coming from South Rehoboth. I guess the people who move to the Pines [North Rehoboth] like that neighborhood the way it is, and they know there are big trees. They're part of the deal. They're not likely to want to clear-cut their lot."

Lingo said she understands it's easier for a developer to clear-cut and start new. "But that's not necessarily the way we go. I'm the tree advocate."

She noted that Rehoboth has an extensive tree canopy. "Especially for a beach town, that's rare. We want to allow people to build their dream homes while at the same time preserving the charm that draws them here - and that certainly extends beyond trees. But we're all about keeping older trees and nurturing new ones. Take one out and put one back. Many people feel that way. But not all. Some would rather have no trees. That's why we have a tree code."

Sad Lewes tree story

One day around last Halloween, I noticed something different on our front porch in Lewes. Two bicycles that had lived there for 15 years were gone. Just gone. We hadn't left them anywhere. We were used to them being there. Now they were gone. Stolen. It felt bad, and it still does.

I felt the same way this week when I noticed for the first time that the tallest tree on Lewes Beach was missing in action. Certainly it wasn't stolen, but it was gone nonetheless. Leveled. Not enough left to cast a shadow.

The tree, a cottonwood, stood beside a small cottage at the northern corner of Savannah Road and Cedar Avenue. At 60-feet tall or so, it towered over the adjacent buildings and made other trees in the neighborhood look like saplings.

In 2001, Bailey Lester, chairman at the time of the city's Parks and Recreation Commission, spearheaded an effort to have Lewes become part of the Tree City USA program. More than 500 trees in the town were listed on the inventory, including the Lewes Beach cottonwood.

In a column I wrote in November of that year, Lester said Delaware's state forester examined the tree and declared it the largest cottonwood in Sussex County.

The Tree City USA requirements, in addition to the inventory and other items, stipulate that an ordinance must be in place regarding street trees. Lewes passed that ordinance, which requires street trees be examined and approval given by the city before they can be either pruned or removed.

Street trees are defined as trees located between the sidewalk and the street.

Lewes Mayor Ted Becker said the problem with the Lewes Beach cottonwood is that it was in a backyard, on private property. "I didn't notice they were taking it down before it was little more than a stump," said Becker. "I felt awful about it."

I don't know whether the Lewes Beach cottonwood was damaged or dying, or simply considered a hazard.

There are many more large, highly visible and distinctive trees in Lewes that would be missed if they were gone: the Bride and Groom bald cypresses on Kings Highway, the champion hackberries in the St. George's Cemetery on Pilottown Road, a massive ginkgo on Kings Highway near Stango Park. They are an important part of Lewes's tree canopy and historic nature.

There must be a way to provide incentives for assistance with maintenance on some of these trees so as not to saddle homeowners with associated costs they couldn't afford. Preservation is important. It's too late to act when the distinctive roar of chainsaws fills the neighborhood.

Like that Lewes Beach cottonwood, when they're gone, they're gone.