Because of shading and leaves in gardens: Municipality of Peiting should fell eleven healthy trees

Created: 01/27/2022, 12:00 p.m

By: Christopher Peters

The trees along Füssener Strasse between Losackerstrasse and the former tile shop are between 15 and 24 meters high.

They are a thorn in the side of the residents of the houses behind them.

© Hans-Helmut Herold

Should the municipality of Peiting fell eleven healthy trees on Füssener Straße because residents complain about early shade and leaves in their gardens and fear for the safety of passers-by?

The City Council debated the issue on Tuesday.

Peiting - Tree felling is a sensitive topic and has already caused some emotional discussions in the Peiting municipal council in the past.

So it was not surprising that Mayor Peter Ostenrieder did not see the request of the residents to fell the eleven maple trees between the Losackerstrasse junction and the former tile shop as something that the administration could not decide on its own.

The municipal council was asked here, the head of the town hall sent in advance before handing over the floor to Erich Wurm.

The Peitinger had asked to be allowed to explain the reasons for the application to the committee on behalf of the residents.

Residents cite several reasons for wanting trees to be felled

Wurm spoke of a "tired story" and appealed to the councilors to put themselves in the position of the residents.

Because of the tall trees, there is early shade in the gardens, which was particularly noticeable in the Corona period, Wurm complained.

Everyone is at home but cannot stay on the terrace because of the shade.

Shading is also a problem for the photovoltaic systems on the roofs.

Then there are the many leaves that end up in the gardens or clog the gutters.

Last but not least, the trees are also a danger for passers-by and cyclists.

After storms, branches often lie on the sidewalk, which is also used by school children, Wurm emphasized.

In the run-up to the meeting, the administration looked at the situation on site and came to a completely different assessment, as can be seen from the meeting documents.

All eleven maple trees are in a “good, vital condition”, so it cannot be assumed that there is a particular danger for pedestrians and cyclists.

It is true that the trees, which are between 15 and 24 meters high, provide earlier shade than would be the case with smaller trees or no trees at all.

However, this has to be accepted by the residents, just like the fallen leaves.

Of course, the administration did not want to hide the fact that in 2017 and 2018 tall trees along the Eisen-Peter blocks on Füssener Straße were replaced by small new plantings at the request of residents.

Nevertheless, the management's proposal to the municipal council was

City councilors are skeptical

In fact, many local councilors were skeptical about the arguments put forward.

Green Councilor Günter Franz said he had a certain understanding for the residents. However, he was of the opinion that trees should only be cut down if they were sick or posed a danger to traffic.

"That doesn't seem to be the case here." In addition, the trees at this point characterize the townscape and also provide noise protection, emphasized Franz. "Not to mention climate protection." And the fact that leaves accumulate is part of nature.

Marion Gillinger (ÖDP), who also pointed out the considerable distance between the trees and the properties of the residents, got the same message.

"I don't see any danger there."

Franz Seidel (BVP) admitted that he was not "the great tree rescuer".

But if you start cutting down trees because they create shadows, "soon there won't be any more trees in town." "If we grant this here, we will get more such applications," warned Herbert Salzmann (SPD), who described the found problems exaggerated.

Thomas Elste (Greens) was also irritated.

The trees are so far away from the private property that the Calvary makes significantly more shade, Elste noted.

In addition, only one of the houses has a photovoltaic system, he corrected Wurm's statement.

The decision should be made after the on-site meeting in the summer

Andreas Barnsteiner (BVP) could at least imagine clearing out the wood in the lower area, while Claudia Steindorf (SPD) asked whether it made sense as a compromise to remove at least individual trees.

In the end, the committee did not reach a decision.

At the suggestion of Gunnar Prielmeier (SPD), the majority agreed that the situation should only be looked at in the summer at an on-site visit with the building yard, when the trees are leafy.