Dozens of Kalamazoo County residents turned out Tuesday to oppose a federally funded tree removal project along county roads and to ask the Road Commission to amend its grant before work begins.
The June 16 meeting of the Board of County Road Commissioners was described by Chair David Pawloski as the most well-attended meeting he has seen in nine years on the commission. Speakers filled more than two hours of public comment time, with the overwhelming consensus asking the commission to move away from broad tree removal and toward selective cutting of dead, diseased, or sight-line-obstructing trees.
What the project involves
The Road Commission received a grant through the federal Safe Streets for All program administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation. The grant funds safety improvements along county roads, including removal of trees within the road right-of-way clear zone. Many residents said they first learned about the project when they noticed trees near their properties marked with red or yellow X’s.
A note on naming: this project shares a name — Safe Streets for All — with the City of Kalamazoo’s downtown street reconstruction initiative on Kalamazoo Avenue. The two are entirely separate programs. Chair Pawloski confirmed on the record Tuesday that the Road Commission’s project and the city’s project have no connection.
The commission’s grant includes approximately 130 miles of centerline rumble strips, 74 miles of shoulder rumble strips, and the tree removal component. Fifty-six miles of shoulder roads are not receiving rumble strips due to coordination with area bike clubs, as those routes are part of the county’s master bicycle plan.
What residents asked for
Speaker after speaker asked the commission to amend the grant to redirect tree removal funds toward alternative safety measures — primarily rumble strips, improved signage, and driver education. Several residents argued that trees were not the primary cause of road accidents, pointing to impaired and distracted driving as the root problem. Others raised environmental concerns: stormwater management, carbon sequestration, wildlife habitat, and the irreplaceability of mature trees.
Residents also raised concerns about the outreach process, saying many of them were unaware of the project until trees near their homes were already marked. Commissioner Randy Thompson acknowledged the point directly, asking residents still in the room after the meeting to share ideas on how the commission could improve its communication going forward.
Oshtemo Township Supervisor Cheri Bell offered formal comments on behalf of the township, noting that Oshtemo’s master plan prioritizes expanding tree canopy along transportation corridors and urging the commission to consider how its policy aligns with local planning goals.
The tree replacement policy
In response to the community concern, Managing Director Travis Bartholomew presented a draft tree replacement policy that would establish a cost-sharing framework — the Road Commission contributing up to 50% of the cost of replacement trees, with the remaining cost borne by adjacent property owners. The policy would apply only to trees removed as part of road improvement projects, not routine maintenance removals.
Bartholomew noted the commission previously had a tree replacement policy and that the draft draws on language from that earlier version. Under the proposal, replacement trees would be planted outside the road right-of-way on private property, meet native species requirements, and follow professional planting standards. For projects tied to federally funded grants, up to two replacement trees could be planted for each one removed.
The public response to the draft was largely skeptical. Multiple speakers said replacing mature trees with saplings — the policy envisions two-inch caliper trees, roughly four to seven feet tall — does not address the loss of established canopy. After discussion, the commission voted to table the draft policy for two weeks to allow further review and potential revisions.
What the commission said
Commissioners did not announce any decision to amend the grant at the meeting. Chair Pawloski noted that the commission uses “data, science, math, and engineering” to guide its decisions. Vice Chair Larry Stehouwer and others expressed appreciation for the turnout and the feedback.
Bartholomew also clarified that when trees are removed, adjacent property owners — who technically own the land to the center of the road — receive a tree removal notification form and are offered the option to keep the wood or have it removed entirely.
The commission’s Safe Streets for All program page at kalamazoocountyroads.com includes project locations, a map, and a safety action plan for residents who want more information.
