If these trees could talk, they'd tell you why they're causing so much controversy in Champaign. "I just never guessed it would be an issue," says homeowner Beth Scarbrough. An issue that could cost this family more than $700 if they refuse to trim their 8-foot hedge to just 2 feet. It's because the city says these big bushes are bad news for drivers, especially those wanting to turn onto prospect avenue. City workers say someone's already complained these bushes are blocking this intersection. "All it really comes down to is visibility," says Champaign Neighborhood Services Coordinator Dorothy David. "If there's a traffic light, that provides a safety mechanism for drivers." In this intersection there's only a stop sign. That's why some say it's dangerous for drivers trying to see around the shrubbery. Scarbrough says she wants to comply, but in this case she's backed against the hedge. "We wouldn't have a problem with cutting them, but we absolutely it's an issue of life and breath," she says. That's because her 8-year-old son has a series of lung problems, and doctors say his home needs a buffer. That buffer is bushes. "It had to be heavily wooded or trees or shrubs especially if it was going to be near a busy road," Scarbrough says, as she pulls out a letter from her doctor stating just that. "It really comes down to... in spring, summer and fall it's the difference between him being able to come out in the yard and play and not." Another issue her family has with this ordinance, the previous owners of her house say it didn't cause them problems. They were able to compromise with the city by trimming these shrubs a few inches. The city says the hedge has grown since then. But Scarbrough says it's not about inches or feet, it's about consideration. "The city had said to the previous owners in writing that they didn't want to harm the vegetation if they could help it," she says. "Instead of not harming vegetation, it's not harming my son's lungs." David says she'll try to compromise on this hedge, especially because of the health hazard. Scarbrough says she will be happy to find an agreement on width, but not height. She says that would defeat the purpose of her family having moved to that house in the first place. She adds if the city is going to enforce a hedge ordinance it shouldn't single-out some homes and not others. David admits there are others out there with hedges just as high. "It's a resource issue," David says. "We don't have the staff to aggressively go out and enforce this." In this case a driver complained, setting the wheels into motion.
