PLEASANT VIEW, Tenn. (WTVF) — Residents of a Cheatham County neighborhood are pushing back against a plan to cut down nearly 20 mature trees along the main road through their community, saying the Town of Pleasant View has not done enough research before moving forward with the removals.
The Town of Pleasant View has scheduled the removal of nearly 20 elm and maple trees along Hicks Edge Road. Town officials say the tree roots are damaging sidewalks, curbs and the road itself.
Neighbors do not dispute the damage exists — but they are questioning whether the roots are truly to blame and whether other options have been fully explored.
"19 trees, mature trees, some 20 years old, will be cut down and permanently removed," Debora Evans said.
Evans' home faces the trees. She received a notice that the removals are scheduled for Tuesday, September 8.
Evans said a traffic committee inspected the road, sidewalks, and bump-outs where the trees are planted earlier this summer, and the Town proposed removing the trees shortly after. She believes that inspection did not go far enough. She also raised concerns about what removing the trees could mean for the area's infrastructure.
"There's been no research on what's going to happen when 19 trees are gone. Will the sewage line be able to carry all the water that these trees absorb, thousands of gallons each year?" Evans said.
Records obtained by NewsChannel 5 show the Town followed its required process, including publicly considering 3 bids to remove the trees at a meeting in July. Town officials were not available for an on-camera interview.
"Trees are precious, they help with the shading of my house, which is a big concern for me," Ed Duggar said.
While no environmental study was done, unlike larger cities such as Nashville and Franklin, Pleasant View does not have a tree ordinance spelling out requirements for removing or replacing trees.
An arborist consulted for this story said the conflict between the roots and infrastructure appears real, but without digging up the roots, it is impossible to know for certain. The arborist said conflicts like this can be prevented with better planning — noting that the type of tree and where it is planted both matter.
On the question of replacement trees, the arborist noted that while many communities require developers to replace removed trees, the rules are less clear when a town itself is the one doing the cutting.
Neighbors say they are hoping Pleasant View will reconsider before Tuesday.
"I'm 70, our neighbors are 80. It takes another 20 years to grow a tree. We won't be here," Evans said.
What started with one neighbor reaching out helped get some answers for an entire community. If you have a problem you think Hannah Can Help look into, email hannah.mcdonald@newschannel5.com.
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