We asked everyone with marked trees one question.
332 of 342 said no one consulted them.
Every person counted here reports trees marked for removal on property they own or live on. When they signed, they were asked whether anyone from the Road Commission had consulted them about it. Ten said yes. Three hundred and thirty-two said no.
Hundreds of people who signed also wrote something. Those comments are below, in their own words.
Each square is one person who reported marked trees on their own property. Filled: said they were not consulted. Counted as submitted — see the note at the foot of this page.
The old growth trees marked for removal on my property have been on my family property for over 100 years. I would rather see lower speed limit signs on Douglas Avenue than see these irreplaceable trees removed from my property without my consent… These are not just trees. They are heritage, and my family's legacy to our children's children.
In their own words
A selection, grouped by what people actually said.
How we found out
The only reason we knew what was going on was bc someone was marking our yard when we got home from work one day and asked him. Other than that we have received zero communication from the county or township.
There was no communication, just an X put on the trees.
We never received any information, just giant red numbers on all 9 of our trees.
Not very cool of the road commission to mark my only shade tree in my front yard for removal without so much as leaving a note on my porch.
It was a surprise to see all the trees marked when we came home from vacation. We weren't notified of the project.
Got one postcard and couldn't access the site that was listed for weeks so was never informed.
I was told by Cooper Township that I would receive a notification, letter, but have yet to receive any. They are at my next door neighbors home cutting right next door right in front of my driveway. I have left 2 messages today for the commission's PR representative. Still waiting for a call back… I have very old trees that I don't deem as hazardous. It would take at least 3 people to link arms to surround them.
I only found out about this project when I recently saw orange x marks on trees along property I own on North 6th Street in Alamo township.
After noticing the red X's on trees along our property… I looked up the project online and called the Road Commission office, asking to speak to a project manager, stating that we did not want our trees cut down and asked what we can do about this. I received a call back from one of the project managers. He left a message stating that the “project requires that they remove all trees within the road right of way,” and if they don't remove all of the trees they could lose the funding. That “if the tree is within 33 ft of the road right of way, it will have to come out.” We plan to measure to see if our trees really are in this 33 ft requirement.
What happens in the winter
2nd Street in Alamo is already such a hazard all winter because they do not have enough trees to stop the drifts — you have to straight guess where the road is and not stop or you will be stuck… We have timed it, it takes 1–2 days for the country roads to be addressed when bad weather happens. We are always the last on the list cause we are further out. If you take our trees you take the only thing stopping the snow.
As a resident on 8th st, the removal of trees would make the roads much worse in the winter. The blowing and drifting is extremely hazardous. In the nearly 30 years that I have lived there, tree accidents have not been an issue. The visibility from the cornfields at intersections have been far worse.
Randomly taking down all of these trees does nothing to make the road safer, in fact, makes it more dangerous as you have now stopped the wind breaks, and the street is free to ice over. That is what has happened up and down Kilgore Road where scores of trees have been stripped from the edges of the field.
There are a lot of trees marked on N 12th St that protect our road especially in the winter from blowing snow from open fields onto the road, which then causes drifting and slippery. Many of the big trees have been there for many years. Perhaps speed limit signs would be a better option.
Due to the large farm fields I am very worried about drifting in the winter without the trees. I also do not appreciate not receiving any communication.
The road gets faster
The road commission already removed 200 trees from U Ave between Portage and Sprinkle Road 2 years ago. People drive faster now than before. The more wide open the roadway feels the faster people drive.
Taking down the trees will make the road look more like a highway and encourage driving at a higher speed. It does not make the road safer and loses the shade and beauty the trees provide. I don't see any evidence that it will make the road safer.
People already drive too fast down Almena. Clear cutting and widening the road will only make the problem worse and turn Almena into a race track.
We are the 2nd house from a 4 way stop. Nobody has gone off the road into our yard in the 20 years we've lived here… How about lowering the speed limit or start patrolling the area to cut down the reckless driving.
Drivers frequently speed and perform risky passing maneuvers on this section… The combination of hills (NOT TREES) causing limited sightlines, and frequent extremely high speed vehicles creates a high-risk environment… Removing mature oaks will reduce shade, reduce natural traffic calming, and remove a community landmark without directly addressing the underlying behavior.
What people on these roads have actually seen
My experiences as a retired firefighter do not bear out the trees being an issue. I feel impaired and distracted driving are the significant contributing factor to fixed object collisions… The removing of decades old trees is PERMANENT. We can't look back in three years and realize it was a mistake and just put them back.
I'm very disappointed in the lack of communication by the county and township, learning of what's going on by finding an X on my front yard trees… I am the owner of a tree service company. To force a home owner to get rid of their trees with no communication is no different than property damage.
Lived here since 1972. The tree has never been hit or lost limbs in roadway. 29 ft, and the road is a straightaway with no obstructive view.
I've spoken to the people at the Kalamazoo County Road Commission in charge of this project twice and strongly opposed the removal of my oak tree. I live TWO houses from an intersection with a 4-way stop sign and a flashing red light. High speed run-offs do not seem to be of high risk as drivers are coming to a stop or just crossing the intersection.
I bought this property on a 55 mile per hour road over 25 years ago BECAUSE I felt protected from cars traveling off the road and did not fear for my children playing in my large front yard. Now I want to have no fear for my grandchildren playing there… And in all the years living here, there have been ZERO cars that have collided with any tree in my yard.
Vehicles don't just leave the roadway and crash into trees, but when they do leave the roadways, I'd prefer they hit a tree vs my house or my children.
Our trees have never been hit and are not impeding drivers' view.
Somebody planted these
My family has owned property on 12 Street since it was a dirt road. My grandfather planted many of the trees they plan to take down. The issue is not the trees. It is the unsafe, reckless drivers… Police the road and ticket the drivers.
My family owns land right there with old trees my grandmother asked us not to remove. These are our family trees on our property… It will be where I retire and I need my grandmother's trees there.
Beautiful canopy along XY Avenue and we tap the maple trees annually for sap. They have every single maple tree I tap marked to come down.
I'm 96 years old and have lived on this property most of my adult life. The amount of trees marked for removal on my street alone is absurd.
I have trees that have been growing for generations of my family, long before the road was ever raised or widened. What some politicians decide will remove something that cannot be replaced in my lifetime.
And then there are the people whose own trees are fine.
Hundreds more signed who have no marked trees on their property at all. They are not protecting their own front yard. They drive these roads.
The Oakland Drive / Winchell Neighborhood Association was formed 50 years ago for this very reason. Our fight to save the trees along Oakland Drive is ongoing. My city and county have been far more responsive to our financial — reduced property values — argument than our esthetic concerns. Put a monetary value on every tree. They understand that.
There needs to be more thought put into this, and any trees that are being considered for trimming or removal need to be individually assessed by an arborist, and if the trees are healthy they need to be left in place. You can't replace a mature tree by planting saplings somewhere else.
Removing trees will harm the natural habitat while eliminating the beneficial effects of snow drift protection, road surface protection and erosion… More harm than good will result from the devastating widespread tree removal. Preserving the ecosystem is essential.
They took so many down along Q Ave in Scotts, we all kept saying it looked like a war zone. I know it was to widen the road but I don't think they ALL had to go, and doesn't it seem like they could have replanted some further back if that was a concern?
I work in Schoolcraft and drive by these trees every day. Nature is a beautiful thing, leave it alone.
The snow and ice will be so much worse in Alamo with this plan. We don't get the best snow removal out here from the county and with nothing to stop the drifting it will be very dangerous.
One of the reasons we moved here was because we loved the tree-lined streets. Please do not blindly take them.
Removing trees from our rural roads is dangerous and unnecessary. The roads highlighted on the map are already dangerous in the winter and removing the trees is going to make them extremely dangerous. I'd rather see you focus on brush and bush removal — the things that actually make it difficult to see around.
Clear cutting marked trees is not necessary in our area. It would do more harm than good, especially for drifting snow along 6th Street.
The drifting along 8th Street is horrible. Taking down trees will make the situation worse. Don't cut live trees.
And 386 more.
These came in the same way — people signing the petition and writing something in the box. We have not grouped these or chosen between them. They are here as submitted.
Our property is ok—but we are sick about the loss of the beautiful maples across the street that our neighbors let us tap for syrup. They are so beautiful and not the way at all!
Not fully discussed at the one public meeting in summer of 2025. Somewhat ignored public concern and comments.
Clear cutting these trees is the wrong approach and will destroy the asthetic of the road and make it more dangerous in the winter with wind blown snow. Xy needs a snow barrier along the open fields to make it safer.
Not interested in seeing all these healthy trees cut down.
Stop the clear cutting of our trees!
No one offical told us anything g about this, they have 4 of out trees marked for removal. all >35yrs old.
We were not consulted at ALL about the removal of trees on our property which we believe will result in greater winter hazard. We also strongly disagree with the township randomly removing trees without property owner consent, or at least consultation. This is wrong on so many levels.
So many more ways that money could be put to use instead of destroying the scenic beauty of our rural landscape.
I agree trees should not be removed, it will 100% be more hazardous to remove them then to leave them in place. RCKC has not been transparent in their plans with anyone within the Scope of their Grant/Work.
Trees provide natural cooling which decreases the need to run air conditioning. Removing the trees would increase the energy consumption which the energy companies are complaining too much is used during the summer months.
Leave them. Trim them for the safety of the tree to help preserve it. Unnecessary to eliminate so many trees.
How horrendous.
This just makes me so sad for our environment, for our homeowners, and the beauty of our rural roads. Not to mention by removing that many trees that already blowing snow and icy roads will be detrimental to safety.
I don't want my Hickory Tree Rmoved, does not seem to be a danger to us.
I had no clue until I started inquiring about the yellow x on almost all my trees and all the beautiful trees that line my street! Besides the beauty the trees provide, they are also home to birds, provide protection, privacy, and shade. This project has me very upset.
not directly impacted. Just hate the loss of roadside trees.
Don’t destroy nature in a time where everything is negatively affecting it.
I live on a road where massive numbers of trees will be removed, none of them are on my property but they are on the routes I travel regularly. I am very concerned about winter road conditions if all of these trees are removed. Additionally, the beauty of the landscape in this area will be decimated by the removal of ancient beautiful trees.
I knew nothing about the trees being cut down prior to seeing x's on the trees and I am very disheartened.
The back of my property is on portage rd where trees are marked to come down.
I understand that some [like a small handful, NOT 8000] may need to be taken out, but def not all! Instead of widening sections of road by taking out all of the trees and negatively affecting everyone who lives in the area's lives in many ways, try by starting to make the oversized tractors and trucks use roads like 16th, or 18th and W Ave [in the portage rd section at least] ect that are already widened and barren of most nature/trees. Stop trying to cater to one subsection of users and start listening to those of us that it will affect daily!
No to cutting the trees.
There was no consultation. I did not hear about this beforehand. I live on Portage Road south of X Ave. and there are some really large and old trees here over 100 years old probably over 150 many of these are in good health and serve as shade trees, and pivotal centers for wildlife diversity. It is not just a matter of clearing the road so drivers can drive. It’s a matter of the health of our planet and the local ecosystems.
Discouraged / Angered.
I was not consulted by RCKC.
My address is a side street because that is where my driveway is, but my property borders P Avenue where there is a yellow line on the map.
No public comment, no environmental impact study, no money for sale of wood worthy trees, no money for safety speeding patrols. When there’s an open road people drive faster and they already speed past our house where seniors cross the road to get mail. No money for tree replacement since our house will then be full sun in summer. I’ve spent hundreds on landscaping for shade with native species among others.
I called and expressed my concern about my property and the erosion the tree removal on the road will cause, and it was simply dismissed.
Please stop cutting down tress.
I have 4 small trees that I planted last year, then they came through and marked all the big trees, these trees are what led me to purchase my home in 2024. These are healthy old trees on state land and private property. Permit department advised no permits have been pulled to remove trees on my street but it is highlighted blue and all the trees are marked. They are not in the way of the road. Also don’t need rumble strips in front of my home, everyone can clearly see the s- curve.
As soon as our trees were marked, my partner approached them to ask why, I immediately contacted county to complain. There was NO early communication.
Do not cut my Lovely trees.
We do not wish for trees along our road to be cut down unless they pose a legitimate threat so drivers on the road. The trees form natural wind blocks preventing dangerous snow and ice accumulation. Trees are necessary for our ecological habitat and landscape.
Absolutely no reason to remove all of these beautiful mature trees! Spend the money on something helpful!
I was not notified of this, until they put the marks on my trees, I live on a crossroad and they marked both sides of my property removing the approximately eight trees, not very happy. My trees must be 100 years old or so.
Let’s get it on!
There is never any consultation in government things. Chop and go on….
Didn’t know anything about the removal just marked trees.
We use our large old maples to make syrup. And we love the canopy the trees make along XY.
It would be so terrible to lose hundreds of beautiful longstanding trees, along with that it would be horrible to see hundreds of animals lose their homes that they built in these trees. This removal would also effect the safety and well being of residents and drivers on the roads as these trees not only help to block the raging snow fall and winds in the winter that create icy roads, but in the hot summer these trees create so much shade that assist in cooling down the surrounding areas.
We were not clearly informed ahead of time about the massive scope of this project. U Avenue is not a dangerous road, as an engineer with RCKC has stated. Reckless driving, including greatly exceeding posted speed limits is the greatest contributor to potential accidents on our street. Lawlessness should not be okay and should not be rewarded by punishing law abiding drivers and residents of our roads instead of properly dealing with the root causes.
I would hate to see trees removed on our road just to widen a road and make it safe. They just cut all the beautiful pine trees down on AB Ave near Ravine and it was sad to see. Now it’s all open and just doesn’t look right. Thankfully I don’t have any trees by the road but many of our neighbors do. As fast as people fly down our road and pass, all of us have said we like the trees there for safety if someone goes of the road. Can’t we just fix the road without having to widen it and remove the beauty of our roads.
Had no prior knowledge of this plan.
My property! My trees! 30 ft. On to my property? You can buy my trees.
Let’s save the trees!!!!
This is absurd and not necessary to improve the safety of the road!
Not being transparent about this !
the trees make it worth living here--they provide us with beauty; shade; clean air so much more ---leave the trees along D Ave please -- they help make this our home without looking like a Desert and in my years living here; i have never seen them as a danger to auto traffic.
excessive.
I don't have any on my property but trees all around me are coming down. It is too many!
Save the Trees!
Didn’t hear a thing until I saw the trees marked.
I would say a better way to protect the safety of drivers is to lower the speed limits. In the case of my property along Portage Road, removing the trees within 33 ft. Of the center line will not stop someone from hitting the dozens of trees right behind them. Reducing speed would be a far better solution.
I only support trimming old branches hanging over the roadway. Removal of the trees is unnecessary.
Do not sacrifice trees along Almena Drive, Oshtemo Township. Cutting these trees will not “prevent” people from going off the road. If they go off the road, they go off the road. If the trees aren’t there, then they will go onto the property past where the trees once were. Let the careless drivers be responsible for their mistakes. Cutting trees is not a solution to the problem of people driving off the road. The trees along Almena Drive are beautiful and create a legendary beautiful thoroughfare.
Leave our trees alone.
We have several trees marked along our road frontage and I would argue that many seem to be beyond the “concern” zone. I think this project is over-reaching, will destroy the aesthetic/beauty of “country road” driving, impact ecology, and not lead to the intended goals. What we need is for drivers to SLOW DOWN on West U Avenue. Speed limit is 55 and many travel in excess of 70mph. Our road is not a highway. If drivers CHOOSE to travel at those speeds then they are at risk for accidents. The trees are not the problem!
One of my trees has a big X on it and some numbers it’s not in the way of anything. It’s never been a problem. It’s a Maple. There’s other trees down. The road are not marked. They’re hanging over the road. I don’t get their logic. It’s almost like they’re marking easy trees to make money. when they can be doing much better things with that money.
There has to be a better way.
I do NOT think trees should be cut down, why would they waste the money if they are planning on underground.
Showing 60 of 386.
Every one of these people is a neighbour of somebody reading this.
The Road Commission board meets Tuesday, September 8, at 3 p.m. at 4400 S 26th Street. We need to be in that room together.
I'll be there September 8
Tell us you're coming and we'll send one reminder the day before.
Two minutes, and we’ll know how to reach you.
Have you already signed our petition or filled out one of our forms?
About these comments. They were left by people signing the original petition for residents against clear cutting our county roads. We publish first initials only. We do not publish surnames, addresses, streets or townships, and we do not share this list with anyone. No Road Commission employee is named or described anywhere on this site.
On the count. 342 people reported marked trees on property they own or live on. Of those, 332 said no one from the Road Commission consulted them and 10 said someone did. The written comments on this page come from signers both with and without marked trees on their own property, which is why there are more comments here than there are people in that count of 342. The grouped selection near the top was chosen by us; the long list further down is as submitted. Within the comments, three entries appear twice and one person answered the consultation question both ways on separate entries. We publish the figures as submitted rather than adjusting them ourselves.
This page is a selection, and we chose it. Comments are as submitted; obvious typos are corrected, cuts are marked with an ellipsis, and no word has been changed to alter what anyone meant. A small number of comments are not published here.