Majestic trees destroyed before judges could weigh in. Here’s what to know
Developers in Long Beach and Biloxi axed protected live oaks before Circuit Court judges could review residents’ appeals. State law allows 10 days to appeal local government decisions, but in both cases the trees came down first.
FULL STORY: Live oaks axed in two Coast cities before judges could hear appeals to save them
Here are key takeaways:
- The prominent Gruich oak at Pass and Nelson roads in Biloxi, nearly 58 inches in diameter, was cut down the day after the Biloxi Council approved its removal in January 2025. The Biloxi Development Group leased the property to Chick-fil-A the same day.
- A judge dismissed resident Carroll J. Campbell’s appeal of the Gruich decision, ruling she had no standing because she did not own the tree, according to her attorney Michael Fondren.
- In Long Beach, three live oaks on U.S. 90 at Shelter Rock Drive came down May 4, the same day property owner Edward Guillie was served with a lawsuit appealing the Board of Aldermen’s decision.
- Long Beach aldermen approved the Shelter Rock removals without a planning commission recommendation after several aldermen met privately with Guillie. The permit was not on the public meeting agenda, residents said.
- Larry Tucei, who has catalogued Southern live oaks for 20 years, said Coast cities generally try to preserve trees, but Coast counties “are destroying the trees and doing whatever they want” because no county tree ordinance exists.
The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The full story in the link at top was reported, written and edited entirely by journalists.
Anita Lee
Sun Herald