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Washington, DC’s Palisades Citizens Association takes on Pepco with Mayor Fenty
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PCA
Last night, the Palisades Citizens Association (PCA) held a community meeting and voiced their long-standing concerns in front of Mayor Adrian Fenty and Ward 3 Councilmember Mary Cheh about their battles with Pepco to preserve the Palisades neighborhood tree canopies.
The Palisades is situated towards the northern edge of Georgetown, adjacent to the Potomac River in the upper Northwest quadrant. It is a quiet area that has managed to resist “urbanized” advances to maintain its “small town” feel; as well as remain a neighborhood with one of the highest concentrations of green spaces and foliage in the city – to include legacy trees several decades old. Earlier this year, Pepco had launched the “Palisades Enhanced Reliability Project” to improve electrical reliability performance in the area. Unfortunately, this project involves removing trees and/or trimming them down heavily into a “Y” shape, which not only damages the tree but the overall aesthetics of the landscape as well.
During yesterday’s community meeting, one citizen was concerned that Pepco wantonly disposed of trees, stating “Pepco cut down trees across from my property...and they were no where near power lines.” Disturbing tree canopies deteriorates significant environmental benefits, such as run-off and heat island mitigation, improved air quality, habitat preservation and opportunities for outdoor education.
With a strong desire to maintain the environmental integrity of their neighborhood, the PCA had started a petition and written Pepco officials numerous times. The PCA correspondence requested a detailed explanation demonstrating how the Reliability Program evaluates the need and degree to which tree coverage is disturbed; as well as the necessity to install 60’ power line poles – nearly twice the height the neighborhood has now. Although Pepco responded with a revised work plan and schedules, the PCA remains dissatisfied with the response’s lack of specific data and extensive detail justifying the need for tree removals and heavy trimmings. (Visit their dedicated page here.)
Since June of 2009, the PCA has engaged the Urban Forestry Administration, Office of the Mayor, Councilmember Cheh and other key public officials to aid in communications with Pepco. Pepco is already implementing Phase I of the Palisades Reliability Improvements, with plans for Phase II to commence January 2010.
During the community meeting, Mayor Fenty favorably considered most solutions voiced, which included a moratorium on Pepco’s tree augmentation activities in the area as well as a walk-through with residents, District Department of Transportation, and the Urban Forestry Administration to experience the issue firsthand.
Of interest: The Palisades of Washington, DC (Images of America, Arcadia Publishing)
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