Pinehurst and Pine Trees in Conflict

[written by Paul Dunn]

The Village of Pinehurst and the axing of 92 trees

The Village of Pinehurst, at the request of Pinehurst Resorts, has entered into an agreement with DOT wherein DOT will remove 92 mature trees to make way for a traffic roundabout to be located at the intersection of Carolina Vista and Highway NC 2. This is the spot where Carolina Hotel guests walk, ride or cycle from the hotel to the famed Pinehurst Members Club, golf courses, tennis courts and back. The State will replace each axed tree with a tree of similar variety but of much smaller size.

Two weeks ago I asked DOT and Village officials just how many trees were going to be sacrificed upon the altar of progress, and believe it or not, they hadn’t a clue as to how many were to be removed until the trees were counted last week. In other words, the Village council members and Mayor of Pinehurst had no idea of how many trees they were causing to be destroyed when they agreed to a controversial DOT-built roundabout. Many of the town’s famed Longleaf Pines to be removed are well over 100 years of age. Some are up to 30 inches in size.

When I brought this somewhat startling fact to the attention of a council person who has expressed environmental interests, the reaction was, “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.” I found that a somewhat startling statement, given that Federal and State Forestry experts advise that Longleaf Pines, Pinus Palustris typically grow until age 125 to 150 years and that healthy ones should live 200 or 300 years. Good specimens typically reach 55 to 80 feet. Some of the pines to be cut down were probably planted at the direction of Frederick Law Olmstead’s associates and James Walker Tufts, the founder of the community.

Pinehurst has a mixed record on the environment when it comes to trees and specifically pines. It has fostered civic interest in a public park and arboretum, while at the same time it did not lift a finger to protect not a hundred, but perhaps more than a thousand Longleaf Pines that were clear cut by the developer of the lands behind the Lawn and Tennis Club last year. You would think that a community named “Pinehurst” would have an unusual affinity for pine trees and do all in its power to protect them. Instead it has asked that some of its most beautiful ones be destroyed by the Department of Transportation to make way for a seriously flawed road project, flawed because it will neither improve traffic flow or safety, particularly as it has been designed without strong night lighting.

A recent mailing by the Village government to its citizens announcing this folly describes the project as having the “unanimous” approval of Village, DOT and the North Carolina Historic Preservation Office. Unfortunately, the facts are otherwise. Historic Preservation professionals have opposed the roundabout from the first moment they heard of it, and still object to it because, as they’ve indicated, it “adversely affects a Federal Historic Landmark District.”

The only reason that cut down trees will be replaced is because the Historic Preservation Office insisted upon it in mitigation of the significant damage to be caused to the Landmark District. In a recent teleconference meeting between Pinehurst, DOT and the Historic Preservation Office, the Village stipulated that the roundabout had “overwhelming citizen support.” This is a curious claim because there has never been research conducted in which the citizens were shown the exact plan proposed by DOT and asked to either comment or vote upon it. In the past, when citizens were asked to comment informally upon a multitude of transportation options for the Village, many favored roundabouts as a general concept, but none were ever given specific facts about the plan as now proposed by DOT for Carolina Vista and NC 2.

When Village officials were shown the DOT plans, instead of holding public meetings to get citizen input on the proposal, they simply gave DOT the green light to proceed. They also failed to ask its own, recently-appointed Pinehurst Historic Preservation Commission to comment on the plans and make recommendations.

Federal government officials, representing those who originally bestowed important US Landmark Status on Pinehurst are also concerned about the DOT project, but because no federal funds are being used by DOT to build the roundabout the feds have kept silent on the project. The newly created Pinehurst Historic Preservation Commission has also remained quiet at the direction of Village officials.

Meanwhile, a group calling itself the Concerned Citizens of Pinehurst has begun advertising facts about the roundabout. To date hundreds of Pinehurst residents have joined it to protest the project to Village and DOT. They object to the project on environmental and historic preservation grounds. They’ve pointed out that the roundabout will destroy much of George Marshall Park and significantly disturb the road designs of Frederick Law Olmstead. They’ve also raised myriad traffic safety concerns that remain unanswered by the Department of Transportation.

The Concerned Citizens of Pinehurst requested that the Mayor and Council “consider holding a public hearing on this important issue and… receive public comment” on the roundabout. Mayor Steve Smith predictably advised the citizens group that the “council has determined there is no need to have public hearings on this matter.” If Pinehurst residents or anyone who treasures the village’s historic traditions wish to stop the DOT roundabout it seems that they’ll either have to storm the village hall, or get the ear of Governor Easley.

One of the ironies of this sorry project is that when it is being constructed, traffic to and from the Pinehurst Country Club will probably be routed into and out of the Members Club area via Village Green East. That’s because the present day exit at Carolina Vista and NC 2 will be closed, perhaps for months. Many who’ve studied the traffic situation there have suggested to DOT, the Village and Pinehurst Resorts that Village Green East be used permanently to funnel traffic out of the club area so that dangerous left turns onto NC – 2 can be totally eliminated. Were such a low cost alternative plan adopted the roundabout would not be needed, and 92 valuable trees would still grace the Landmark Historic District.

Why worry about 92 old trees? Maybe just because they’re there.

Paul R. Dunn is co-author of Great Donald Ross Golf Courses You Can Play
paulandbj@nc.rr.com