MOUNT DORA, Fla. – The fate of oak trees in downtown Mount Dora has caused an uproar over uprooting the trees.
As part of a streetscape project, the city has been pulling out some oak trees and replacing them with palm trees. Ribbons adorn oak trees in downtown as a symbol to save them.
"People like the charm of downtown Mount Dora, they like the quaintness," said resident Barry Blake.
"We moved to Mount Dora for the trees and the whole look," said resident Tony Sorrell.
A number of residents, sporting green shirts and ribbons, arrived to Tuesday's city council meeting fearing their town is losing its icon.
"Really tall, skinny palm trees with no palm fronds," said Blake.
"You might as well plant a phone pole because it doesn't give any shade," said resident, Elaine Sorrell.
The sable palms have been planted as part of the streetscape efforts in downtown.
Landscape architect Michael Pape told the crowd, "We put an oak tree wherever an oak tree could fit."
Pape encouraged councilmembers that some spots are just too small to sustain large, shady oak trees.
"You just don't want to put the wrong tree in the wrong place. It's that simple. It's not rocket science," Pape said.
The palm trees just don't cut it for residents, they told Local 6.
"To walk downtown with no shade, it's horrible," said Sorrell.
"[With] palm trees, you don't get that. It's hot, you come out with your ice cream cone, go down the sidewalk it's just going to melt," said Blake.
"The decision is in your hands. What you need not to do is do something irrational, illogical, and just plain dumb when it comes to planting trees where they don't fit," said Pape.
Councilmembers will hold a workshop for public input June 15 to weigh options.