Opinion
By Mark Baratelli
Clear Channel Outdoor (website) hates trees.
Hate is a strong word.
Clear Channel Outdoor haaaaaates trees.
Clear Channel Outdoor goes onto private property and shaves off the tops of trees, sculpts their branching wispy canopies into a comical oblong balls and otherwise beats the hell out of them ...so their billboards can be seen by drivers.
But how do we know Clear Channel Outdoor is responsible if they won't return your calls, Mark?
- The City isn't doing it. I asked City of Orlando and City of Winter Park. They don't trim trees on private property.
- The property owners aren't doing it. I asked the new owners of the property that used to have a Circle K on it at the corner of Virginia and Mills, for example, if they sliced the tops off two mature trees they just bought. They weren't even aware the trees had been trimmed.
- Clear Channel Outdoor is doing it. I admit fully that don't have confirmation directly from the company, but after the City of Orlando told me about City Code, ch. 64.275 (see below), I figured it out. And look up at any billboard: if trees are in front of it, even ones many feet ahead of it, they're affected. You'll see what I mean.
Landscaping will be provided, where appropriate, and maintained by billboard permittees, and visibility for permitted billboards may be maintained through properly permitted maintenance of foliage and landscaping.And all they need is a permit. See City Code Sec. 64.103:
Tree removal permits requested for sign visibility must meet permit requirements and shall be obtained for trees of one (1) inch caliper or greater.
Ain't that some shit?
Remember in 2015 when we asked who was turning two mature oak trees into topiaries across the street from Winter Park Village in Winter Park? Now we know. See below.
The No tree is across the street from Winter Park Village. The Yes tree is on the Winter Park Village side of the street. These trees are of similar ages but one looks full and natural and one looks like a mistake from the factory.
I don't know who owns this billboard, but even this company hates trees. And what do these mutated warped eyesores say about Milk District? Yes there's a nice billboard welcoming newbies to the best Main Street in town and here are some moon trees.
But why should I care, Mark?
- When a mature oak is trimmed, the city is deprived of shaded streets, shady property, shady parking lots. These things you may never think about are factors that improve your quality of life in a city. You know how different it feels to drive down a shady street versus the shadeless hell hole avenues of Orlando.
- Our city doesn't have many areas with loads of shady streets. Why are we going to maim the few shade trees we have? The hell is wrong with us?
- Ball-tress look like shit. We as a city should not be ok with ball-shaped trees. This isn't Versailles. Well cared for trees speak to the community in which they're located. Respect for trees indicates a respect for the city. I just made that up but it does kind of make sense.
So next time you're driving and you see a tree all mangled or topiary-like the photos below, look for a billboard nearby and thank Clear Channel Outdoor. Fuckers.
But wait. Is Clear Channel Outdoor allowed to topiary the hell out of trees or give them a flat top haircut?
No.
"Excessive pruning of plant material, including but not limited to pruning that endangers vegetation or changes the natural shape of trees to improve sign visibility, shall be prohibited."See City Code Sec. 60.206:
"It shall be unlawful to cut down, damage, top, poison or in any other manner destroy or cause to be destroyed any tree or native plant community as covered by this Part except in accordance with the provisions of this Part."
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