As of: February 9, 2024, 1:45 p.m
By: Bert Brosch
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Thomas Neiß would like to fell two of the four beech trees in the garden.
The local council rejected this, saying tree protection was more important than personal concerns.
Cutting down the trees would be a loss in every respect.
© Bert Brosch
Two applications for tree felling have now been rejected by the Feldkirchner committee.
When planting them, an owner would never have imagined that the trees in his garden would one day grow so large.
Feldkirchen
– Thomas Neiß impressively described the problems with four copper beech trees in Feldkirchen: enormous amounts of leaves and beechnuts, expensive tree pruning, and above all, enormous shading in the house.
His application to fell two trees was rejected by a vote of 10:9, as was an application on Jahnstrasse.
“Almost 25 years ago I planted four copper beeches around my 220 square meter garden on Fasanweg,” Neiß reported to the local councilors.
At the time, he had no idea what mighty trees they would become: each almost 20 meters high.
“In 1999 I was one of the first to build a solar thermal system for warm water in Feldkirchen.
But for several years now we have had less and less energy yield due to the enormous shading caused by the trees,” said Neiß.
In addition, there is annual tree pruning and maintenance costing around 1200 euros per year, enormous amounts of autumn leaves and beechnuts, and strong shading on the terrace and garden, as well as in the house.
“Some of us have to heat in September, while others are still enjoying the warm late summer.
“We have additional costs of up to 150 euros per month due to increased energy consumption for heating, hot water and transport,” said Neiß.
He therefore wants to have two of the four trees felled and two smaller ones planted because he wants to install a PV system for his electric car, but that would only be economical with a lot of sun.
Healthy and vital trees
The administration explained that the beech trees requested for felling were healthy and vital trees; from a biological point of view, felling could not be justified and was not considered necessary.
The requested felling conflicts, on the one hand, with trees as an important part of the local greenery and one of the objectives of the municipal tree protection ordinance.
On the other hand, to use or generate renewable energies for your own needs.
After a discussion across all factions, there was a 10:9 majority against the felling.
Tree protection is considered more important than personal concerns, and they don't want to set a precedent.
“I really feel sorry for the man.
He described his problem very clearly.
Others simply fall down and then pay a fine of 500 euros; he was honest and lost,” said Mayor Andreas Janson.
Crowns extend far into the construction site
The local council also rejected the second application for tree felling on Jahnstraße at the transition to brewery path.
The application was justified by the fact that the two trees made it impossible to build on the previously undeveloped property.
The building boundary extends directly to the trunks of the black locust and Norway maple trees.
Excavations would massively damage the roots of the trees and endanger their stability or destroy the trees.
The crowns of the trees also extend far into the entire construction site.
A severe to very severe pruning of the tree crowns would be necessary; this would also endanger the stability of the trees.
According to the administration, both trees are vital, without significant damage and, as large trees, are important for the greening of the community.
Felling would be a loss, both for the climatological importance as a water and CO2 storage, as an oxygen producer and fine dust filter, as well as for the townscape of the community.
Here too, the local council rejected felling at this time.
However, if a building application were submitted, then approval would probably be given.