In the first week of January 2023, I met with the Superintendent of the Montmorency County Road Commission to discuss the drainage improvements planned for Banks Road in Hillman, Michigan. My 12-acre property includes over 1,300 feet of right of way on the north side of Banks Road. The Superintendent indicated that the county planned to completely regrade the gravel road. An open drainage ditch system constructed on my side of the road. The southern side of the road right of way includes easements for the above ground electric lines and buried communication and natural gas lines.
Construction in the 30 foot right of way on my property requires the removal of mature maple, poplar, apple and ash trees that have grown naturally over the last 50 years.
As a Landscape Architect, it was a difficult pill to swallow. We will lose the shade in the summer, the wind break in the winter, the natural screen of the Main House from public view, and the beautiful fall foliage. On the other hand, the road will not wash out every time we get a hard rain and will benefit the other seven property owners. After grading, and seeding is completed this summer, we will plant almost 1,000 seedling evergreen and deciduous trees in the fall.
Tree Removal was completed on March 3, 2022. Future Posts will document the next phases of site construction in the Spring.