Construction workers pick up lumber and branches in the empty space where trees once stood in the Tom Thumb parking lot. Photo by Emma Ruby.
Several large trees that stood between the Tom Thumb grocery store and the gas station on Hampton Road have been removed to make way for additional parking.
The tree removal has taken place over several weeks, with just one stump remaining in the ground Wednesday afternoon. Truck beds full of lumber and tree branches have been removing the debris from the location.
According to Philip Erwin, Chief Arborist for the City of Dallas, Tom Thumb obtained a grading and paving permit to expand the parking lot, which included an approved tree removal permit.
The grocery store completed a tree mitigation, which will ensure replacement trees are planted.
Article X tree conservation ordinance says that unless it is determined impractical, those replacement trees must be planted on the same plot of land the initial trees were removed from.
