Council: No power to cut private trees near airport

Calvin Bratt
Tribune editor

  LYNDEN -- The city of Lynden does not have power to cut trees on private property, City Council member Gary Bode emphasized Monday after a hearing on tall trees located close to the Lynden Municipal Airport.
  So the city is willing to spend more time discussing options with the Woodfield Village Homeowners Association, Bode said.
  Meanwhile, any approval of a plan for airport improvements does not necessarily obligate the city to make those upgrades, City Council members pointed out.
   Councilor Tobey Gelder said he understands that 13 trees may be intruding into the east flight path airspace of the Depot Road airport. His questions, he said, are: How far? and Are the trees healthy?
  An insurance professional, Gelder said it only makes sense for everyone involved to deal with risks that have been identified.
  All seats at the City Hall Annex were taken and more people stood at the door as the Lynden City Council began its 7 p.m. meeting. Consultant Airside's 56-page report on the airport was the first topic, taking about an hour and drawing about 10 speakers, before the hot-button Sunday liquor sales issue.
  Herb Stober, head of an airport advisory committee, urged accepting the report, which is needed if Lynden is to receive any additional state funding for the airport.
  David Ketchum, author of the report, said, that in an evaluation of the trees, he believes the Federal Aviation Administration would agree with him that they are a hazard.
  But attorney Jack Swanson, for the Woodfield home owners, called attention to state law that he said prevents the city from lowering or removing the tall trees.
  And John Geleynse, one of the Woodcreek plat developers in the early 1990s, read from agreements or stipulations that were made at the time. The use of the airport has grown significantly since then, and the goal at the time was to preserve as many trees as possible, Geleynse said.
  Some speakers suggested placing lights in the trees as a warning to unfamiliar pilots.
  Any solution should be a matter of fairness for all involved -- pilots, home-owners and the public -- and some "happy medium" should be possible, said resident Travis Gill.
  The matter of approving the plan was carried forward, and the city will receive written comment on the plan for another two weeks. A written version of the Airside report is available for viewing at City Hall Public Works, 323 Front St., or online at http://airside.net.
  E-mail Calvin Bratt at editor@lyndentribune.com.