Alamo Ranch Residents - Need Traffic Solution (San Antonio, West: neighborhood, construction)

[the_dimwit]

Actually, if you go to Google Maps and check out the sections opposite the Pulte side, you'll see that there were few trees out that way to begin with. The images used for the maps are pre-construction (all of Alamo Ranch needs some serious updating in Google). This is especially true near the Catholic Retreat center (where Meritage and Medallion are building)...

--Dim

[Latinocowboy]

Originally Posted by the_dimwit

Actually, if you go to Google Maps and check out the sections opposite the Pulte side, you'll see that there were few trees out that way to begin with. The images used for the maps are pre-construction (all of Alamo Ranch needs some serious updating in Google). This is especially true near the Catholic Retreat center (where Meritage and Medallion are building)...

--Dim

I realized this when checking out the area last year. There weren't a lot of trees in certain areas. Still, D.R. Horton did scalp the grass a few times too many.

[the_dimwit]

Originally Posted by Latinocowboy

I realized this when checking out the area last year. There weren't a lot of trees in certain areas. Still, D.R. Horton did scalp the grass a few times too many.

You're probably right. It's an unfortunate thing, but in 10 years the "mini-trees" that have been planted will look great and we will have all but forgotten about what may or may not have been.

(Not an excuse for the builders' actions, mind you...)

--Dim

[yosoyway]

Most of the builders are guilty of clearing out land. The worst one I ever saw was the area Pulte cleared out on 281 north of 1604. They left that area bare.

Another one was Centex I believe on Prue road. The area is on a hill overlooking the new Brandeis H.S. That area was also literally scalped of any living vegetation.

I guess there is a cost benefit for the builders.

At least most of them replant a lot of trees to more or less compensate for their actions.

[mimimomx3]

Originally Posted by the_dimwit

You're probably right. It's an unfortunate thing, but in 10 years the "mini-trees" that have been planted will look great and we will have all but forgotten about what may or may not have been.

(Not an excuse for the builders' actions, mind you...)

--Dim

Yes, if they plant the right kind of tree (oaks- more expensive)...things like Bradford Pears (inexpensive) have a 25 year or so life span and then you have to start all over!

[the_dimwit]

Originally Posted by mimimomx3

Yes, if they plant the right kind of tree (oaks- more expensive)...things like Bradford Pears (inexpensive) have a 25 year or so life span and then you have to start all over!

I hear you. It would be nice if builders would front the cost for more expensive trees, but that's probably not the case in most subdivisions. The trees planted in yards are more likely to be less expensive than those planted in common areas. I'm not a developer, so I can't be sure about that...

--Dim

[Living Near Shamu]

I remember the eye-sore of 281. It made Pulte bring out a full page ad in the local paper saying that they had simply removed the trees that were "harmful" to the Aquifer because they take too much water.

[ryneone]

Originally Posted by mimimomx3

Yes, if they plant the right kind of tree (oaks- more expensive)...things like Bradford Pears (inexpensive) have a 25 year or so life span and then you have to start all over!

Then the buyers should plant an oak tree or two. That is what my grandpa did about 20 years ago. He built on the top o a hill in New Berlin. The hill was cleared out to make way for crops. He put in 10 live oaks and ten ill ask (if what i think it right is was a mixture of texas umbrella trees and and some thing with arizona in the title.)

Now he has nice oaks and the first fast grower just died last summer. By the time they're gone he have mature oaks.

[mimimomx3]

Originally Posted by ryneone

Then the buyers should plant an oak tree or two. That is what my grandpa did about 20 years ago. He built on the top o a hill in New Berlin. The hill was cleared out to make way for crops. He put in 10 live oaks and ten ill ask (if what i think it right is was a mixture of texas umbrella trees and and some thing with arizona in the title.)

Now he has nice oaks and the first fast grower just died last summer. By the time they're gone he have mature oaks.

Absolutely....that's far thinking. I wish I could ban Bradford Pears....

[TexHwyMan]

Originally Posted by the_dimwit

@goodmanm:

Road systems are intelligently built (at least in the suburbs), and construction projects take a year or two instead of a generation.

--Dim

Hogwash. I checked VADOT's site and most significant projects take 2-4 years, just as they do here. I won't mention the Woodrow Wilson Bridge project, which started in 1999 and won't be completely done until 2013. (OK, I guess I did mention it.)