ROCKLEDGE, Fla. – The attorney for the Rockledge Drive Tree coalition told Brevard County commissioners this week he wants the picturesque road on the Indian River to be put on the National Scenic Byways list.
Marshall Gilmore told News 6 that would ensure that the road would keep its character, in addition to saving money for taxpayers.
Gilmore said neighbors support the county removing dead trees and limbs, but he argued the county’s claims of longstanding clearance issues are not valid.
“Waste management people have trucks that will go down this road no trouble,” he said.
During an interview Friday, Gilmore also said that as of right now, the county has no plans to start trimming.
Neighbor Tim Dwight said he thought a little trimming would not be bad just as long as trees weren’t removed.
“You have whole stretches of this road where there’s virtually no obstacles at all and then you have a few other areas that are a little tough,” Dwight said as he walked his dog.
Gilmore said partnering with the county to designate the road on the National Scenic Byway could settle the debate over the trees once and for all.
“They don’t want to wreck the road either,” Gilmore said. “But if you just come in here and trim the trees without any real conscious attention to the fact that this tree canopy is unique, you would ruin this asset and we’re not going to let them do that.”
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