Forty-one live oak trees will be removed for a 117-unit Wildwood housing development.
After listening to opposition from about a half dozen members of a local family, Special Magistrate Lindsay C.T. Holt approved a variance to allow the tree removal.
She also granted another variance at the meeting Tuesday of the Wildwood Planning and Zoning Board that permits removal of two live oak trees on another property.
The Northern Pines Subdivision is south of County Road 222 about one-third mile west of U.S. 301 near the Peppertree Apartments.
MXPT Land, LLC, the developer, wants to remove the 41 trees because they would be endangered by the development.
“We would rather replace them than wash them out,” said Tyler Counts, representing the developer.
Some of the 100-year-old trees will be replaced according to Wildwood’s mitigation requirements.
In a letter to city planning director Melanie Strickland, arborist David Loy wrote that removing the trees is the best solution.
He wrote that many of the trees are near proposed retention ponds or in an area impacted by wetlands and would be affected by construction activity.
Members of the Casteel family, owners of adjacent property, objected.
“These trees are of historical value and part of our rural character,” said Paul Casteel, adding that Wildwood is known as the tree city.
Pam Casteel Williams said removing the trees would destroy the habitat of woodpeckers, great horned owls and other animals.
“We grew up in these trees, playing around and climbing them,” she said. “This is some of the most beautiful property left in the area.”
Holt also granted a variance allowing removal of two live oak trees for the Summerfield Cottages project on County Road 209 in Oxford. Seventeen live oaks will be preserved.