Only 92 trees

[from Moore Co. resident Paul Dunn]
As a full page advertisment in the Pilot announced on Sunday, the Village of Pinehurst is determined to see a roundabout built at the meeting of Carolina Vista and NC 2. This will cause a great deal of dislocation in the community for months. It will result in the State expending an estimated $500,000 to $750,000. It will not improve traffic flow at the site because the traffic light at NC 2 and NC 5 will still remain, albeit there will be a modest improvement in the turning lanes at that location.

Until last week no one had actually counted the number of trees to be axed by the contractors. A surprising fact but none the less true. As a matter of fact, DOT originally had no specific plans for replacing destroyed trees. Now there is an unsatisfactory plan mandated by the State's Historic Preservation Office, (HPO), which requires one tree to replace each tree axed. A small pine is hardly a replacement for a mature pine!

HPO has repeatedly informed Pinehurst and DOT that the roundabout plan is still objectionable on many counts. This agency has repeatedly informed Village and State officials that the Pinehurst requested roundabout "adversely effects the historic district in which Carolina Vista and NC -2 lies." Which, if you are not familiar with it, is in the very heart of the Federally Landmarked Historic District. Pinehurst's representative to a conference call meeting of HPO and DOT informed the State that the project had "overwhelming citizen support," according "to a poll of 400 households."

You may find that fact as startling as I did when I heard it today. Minutes of that meeting may be received by contacting State employee Jeff Crow at Jeff.Crow@ncmail.net

When the issue of the 92 trees, (some of which are est'd to be 100 years old) was brought to the attention of one council member in Pinehurst, she said today, "The trees which are 100 years of age are going to die shortly anyway. And yes, I think most of us will be proud of the results."

So much for environmental concern! I pointed out to her that the US and NC Forestry Services both advise that a typical Longleaf Pine does not reach its full size until about 125 to 150 years of age and that healthy ones should live 200 to 300 years.

19 members of the Concerned Citizens of Pinehurst have written to Mayor and Council asking for a public hearing on "this important issue." Over 100 families have responded to the Pilot advertisement in support of Concerned Citizens of Pinehurst, and envelopes are coming in daily.

If you agree that this is an important environmental and historic issue you may wish to contact Concerned Citizens: John Marcum at jmarcum@nc.rr.com
or Bob Tufts, at rtufts@balsammountain.com
or write to the Mayor and Council or the Governor of North Carolina or to your State Representative, Joe Boylan.

You may also wish to contact members of Pinehurst's recently appointed Pinehurst Historic Preservation Commission, which was asked by a Village Official not--that's right, NOT--to get involved in this issue of historic relevance and to date the Commission has remained silent as requested.

DOT is expected to give out the contracts on this shortly and when they do they'll not want to be sued for non-performance, i.e. they would like to proceed with the public remaining silent or lawsuits from Concerned Citizens. If you are sympathetic to the goals of the Concerned Citizens on the tree issue and the roundabout project kindly pass this message along to your e-mail addressees in the Sandhills.

Thanks, Paul R. Dunn 235 0397