Request Sheds New Light on an Ordinance Dating Back to 1898 Protecting Live Oak Trees in La Grange
In case you didn’t know, if you live in La Grange and want to cut down a live oak tree, you need permission from the City Council.
At their meeting Monday night, May 11, the La Grange City Council approved a request from Beatrice Ortiz to cut down a large live oak tree next to her house on E. Upperline St.
In a letter to the City, Ortiz said the tree has caused thousands of dollars in damage to her sewer line. Her family recently discovered a hollow spot in the tree where bees have moved in, and now she’s worried it will fall on her house in a storm.
“The reason this is coming before you is because we do have an ordinance specific to live oak trees,” City Secretary Janet Bayer told the Council at the meeting.
La Grange is well-known for protecting live oak trees – so much so that the City has made a point of paving streets around them for decades. Though it might not be well known, the ordinance in question has been in effect for more than 125 years. According to a 1966 edition of the La Grange Code of Ordinances, the City Council initially passed it on Feb. 2, 1898.
The ordinance states that “... any person who shall willfully cut any live oak tree or in any wise impair the use and natural beauty of any live oak tree without the permission of the city council shall be guilty of an offense.”
“I hate to see that tree get cut down, but probably like everyone in here, I can understand your reasons,” Councilman Ken Taylor said at the meeting.
“It’s scary, especially when you have bad weather like last night,” Ortiz told the Council.
Indeed, the storm that came through Fayette County over the weekend blew down at least two barns in the southern part of the County and numerous large trees throughout the area.
The Council voted unanimously to approve Ortiz’ request. Councilman Taylor suggested that the family donate the wood to the La Grange Knights of Columbus for their barbecue meals.
In other business at Monday’s meeting, the Council denied a request from the Fayette County Commissioners Court to take over maintenance of a portion of Von Rosenberg Rd. on the northwest side of town. Von Rosenberg Rd. runs from the end of Main St. to the SH 71 Bypass. The La Grange City Limits lie on the east side of the road. To the west is unincorporated private property. The County wants the City to take over the portion from Main St. to the end of the Sunset Ridge subdivision.
Several Council members questioned how the move would benefit the City. Public Works Director Rob Woods rated the roadway condition a two on a scale of one to five. He said it would cost the City approximately $125,000 to repair it.
He said the County offered nothing in exchange for the maintenance transfer.
After the discussion, Council took no action on the requisition.