CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A beautiful part about living in a waterfront condo could be no more.
Oak trees may be highly appealing, but at the Solana on the River condos, a fight could be brewing over cutting them down because of foundation concerns.
“I’m not happy about it,” resident Shawn Schaffner said.
When Schaffner heard about what could happen to the trees, he reached out to your Cape Canaveral Community Correspondent James Sparvero and showed him 15 shady trees that are now marked with caution tape.
James found out the HOA is considering cutting down trees because they said their thick roots might be getting in the way of the water line.
Schaffner worries about losing all the shade on the street.
“It’s gonna be hotter than Hades out here if all these trees come down,” he said.
Board member Angela Raymond, who used to be on Cape Canaveral’s city council, told James the board will have a meeting about the trees next month.
“Right now, we have some trees that are negatively affecting the water pipes,” Raymond said. “I know that we are a ‘Tree City’ and I very much support trees, but these particular trees are terrible because they have long roots.”
The Arbor Day Foundation recognizes Cape Canaveral as a ‘Tree City’ for how well the city cares for and manages trees.
Schaffner said maybe one or two trees at most should be cut down if they’re affecting the sidewalks.
He said if other communities around the country can manage living with large oaks, his neighborhood should too.
“I’d be ecstatic,” Schaffner said if the board decided not to cut down the trees. “I mean, it would be just as beautiful as it is today, but when I come into the community and I hear a chainsaw, I’m not gonna be pleased.”
Raymond said if the board approves removing any trees, it won’t come at any extra cost to the people who live there.