My daily commute takes me past the corner of Rebel Road and CR 150. My Monday drive home was ruined when I discovered that several mature live oak trees had been obliterated in the name of “progress.” These weren’t oaks that were sick or dying. These were beautiful, mature, live oak trees that have been around longer than I’ve walked the planet and it was a devastating scene to witness.
I then recalled that a Sonic would soon occupy the corner. I don’t eat at Sonic (nor would I even consider it after this travesty) but I imagine that many of you do. I have to ask you, is it worth it? Take a look at any Sonic. Recognize a common theme in their construction? Concrete – and lots of it. And, hey, if there’s a tree (or several) that just happens to be in the way, we’ll just take it down.
Sure, they’ll add some landscaping “improvements” to the site; they’re required to do so. Will it come close to replacing the trees they killed? I think not. Echoes of Joni Mitchell’s “Big Yellow Taxi” came to mind as I tried to imagine who in their right mind would fell these majestic oaks. “They paved paradise and put up a parking lot.”
There will, no doubt, be many other food options and other businesses making their way to Kyle. Sonic will not be the only establishment to get away with this kind of destruction unless we as a community raise our voices. PLEASE contact our mayor and council members and let them know that destroying one of our greatest natural resources will not be tolerated by this community. It is possible to welcome commerce with guidelines that allow for our natural resources to be preserved and protected. Your efforts will help ensure that our future generations won’t have to visit live oaks in a tree museum.
Cindy Lawton
Kyle
(Editor’s Note: The trees being taken down at the northeast corner of FM 2770 and FM 150 are making room for a not just a Sonic, but also Walgreen’s Pharmacy.)
