Mayfield trees axed for Google’s new digs

Glad to see that something is finally happening to that property. I’d much rather have commercial development right next to a Caltrain station vs. on the edge of town with no public transit access.

I hope the access road to the San Antonio underpass is repaired and opened ASAP. Until the I will push the pedestrian button when I cross San Antonio on my bike. This is a 25 second wait for traffic on San Antonio. I hope the road is not closed for a year while construction plods along.

These trees did not have to be removed. Even if a supposedly diseased one had been identified and slated for removal, doing so later in the summer precludes removing active bird nests along with the tree. And replacing any that really needed to be taken out due to serious disease is the right thing to do. Will any of these be replaced? As no building is taking place, they all should be replaced with just as large growing of species. Do you hear this, Google?

But as for MV, I have found that the City of MV prefers to get the money for permits to remove trees rather than preserve trees and make no money. Screw ecology.

Not that I work for MV but having dealt with city hall regarding tree removal, I learned the following…
“A Heritage Tree Removal Permit is valid for up to two (2) years from date of issue. After the tree(s) is removed, the owner is typically required to plant a new 24-inch box tree(s) or pay an in-lieu fee of two hundred fifty dollars ($250) to the City of Mountain View for each tree removed. These funds are used to plant new trees in City parks, medians and public areas. The property owner may choose the replacement species and planting location for the new tree(s).”
http://www.mountainview.gov/city_hall/comm_services/forestry/heritage_trees/heritage_tree_faq.asp
……..I think the fee has increased since this was written.

I wonder if Solar Arrays are intended for this site? That would make sense now that most of the trees have been removed.

Jim Neal, were you unaware this was going to happen? Do you think sick trees should just fall on people instead of being removed?
Good lord man, think through an issue instead of knee-jerking when you hear a key phrase.
Yes it involves trees, but…oh why do I bother. Have fun posting and nice hat.

Jim, Have you considered running for MVWSD school board instead? You would fit in great there!

One should never remove trees at the height of the nesting season. This is very upsetting.

when will the name change come from MV to Google-land

We don’t need no stinkin’ birds, you can listen to computer-generated bird sounds online if you want birds.

We don’t need no stinkin’ oxygen, Google will soon invent a replacement for that to sell us. Oh, wait, there already are “oxygen lounges” at the airport (Las Vegas?). Never mind.

So, is the Voice going to finish doing the required investigative work and report the rest of the story? Was it only the trees that were identified as diseased? Were those trees identified as diseased confirmed by a second opinion? (given that MV’s arborist has to my knowledge NOT been a defender of heritage trees). How many trees were cut down and how many remain? Will any trees be replaced? Will solar panels occupy that area?

MV Voice, instead of the provocative headlines and partial information, how about including the whole story?

Google is GOD people.

They can do whatever they want.

Don’t you dare critize anything Google does.

This city seems to care little for birds, so the latest decimation of their nests is not surprising. However, it is still nothing compared to the destruction that the continual release of non-native bird predators (yes, you guessed it! Cats!) into our neighborhoods, parks and wetlands. The most concerning point is that apparently the burden of proof is on the “bird advocates” that they come up with an array of concrete scientific peer reviewed studies to prove the startling concept that cats kill birds. Shouldn’t the burden be on the rescue groups to prove that their release of these predators into public areas is not causing environmental harm?

It is so sad to hear the increased roaring of traffic and the dwindling beautiful song of our bird population. Progress? I think not.

All Heritage tree ordinances were followed. If you look into it, there is a process for companies building things, and a different process for home owners. You must be under the mistaken impression the Heritage tree ordinance provide equal protection. They do not. Go to the web site and do a count of how many times the city approves a tree removal and how many times they do not approve them. Further, if you cut down a heritage tree, and the unlikely event happens that someone turns you in (only enforced on complaint basis) and the evidence still exists to show you cut one down, the fine is that you have to buy a permit! So why on earth does anyone buy a permit? If you buy a permit, you can be told know. If you cut without a permit, the city only makes you buy a permit! Face it folks, we are not going to have a canopy in Mountain View. People do not care about trees enough to take on the system.

Yes, some of the heritage trees are diseased. However, most of the trees removed were not heritage trees, but does that not make them worthy of saving? And especially during nesting season? If they’ve had the permits since Nov. 2012, why the urgency to take the trees down now? I guess Google’s schedule is more important than anything else.

“Birds had been nesting in the removed trees, she said.”
If there were indeed nesting birds that were harmed, not only is it a California code violation, it is a Federal crime, under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918. Just ask the tree-trimmer that sent birds through the chipper outside the San Francisco Post Office, he was just charged.

In 1960 some developer planted some cheap fast growing trees to fill the area and make it look nice and now we call them Heritage? Or were those old peach trees that die after 40 years considered heritage. Trees most live about 20-30 years in a city.