WILMINGTON — After a developer removed the shrubs and trees, including a dozen oaks, lining the parking lot of the Whole Foods on Oleander Drive, questions circulated on social media about whether this was allowed under the city’s tree protection ordinance.
According to a City of Wilmington spokesman, the work is being done by the landlord of the private property and is allowed by city code. The plans, including the tree removal permit, were submitted by KRG Oleander LLC, the Indianapolis, Ind. based owner of the property. Wilmington’s Technical Review Committee approved the plans in December of 2018.
The ‘tree preservation plan’ calls for removing and replacing all the trees and shrubbery along Oleander Drive and Fordham Road. In total, 34 trees were approved for removal. Under the city ordinance, the property owner was required to detail how the trees would be replaced.
Under the approved plan, the removed trees and their proposed replacements are:
- Seven cedar trees — replaced with American Holly
- Five maple trees — replace with white crepe myrtles
- Twelve oak trees — replaced with crepe myrtle, river birch, and eastern redbud trees
- Nine crepe myrtles — replaced with more crepe myrtles
- One Gingko Biloba — replaced with a holly tree
A Whole Foods Market representative confirmed that the landlord, not the supermarket chain, was responsible for the landscaping.
