A tall, old tree is at the center of a debate between Mountain Creek residents living near the old Quarry golf course on Reads Lake Road and a developer who wants to turn his property into homes and apartments.
Just how large the tree measures was a crucial point for residents attempting to prove the post oak was either a state or national champion that shouldn’t be cut down due to its historic classification. It was not, and developer James Pratt with Pratt Home Builders believes residents are trying to throw any excuse at him to stop the development. But some residents still say they believe saving the tree is crucial for the area, and they hope Pratt takes that into consideration when developing the property.
“I think when we recognize that we have something like this, we should do what we can to preserve it,” resident Lorraine Forman said.
The tree on the property stands 36 feet taller than the current Tennessee state champion post oak, but the designation accounts for height, circumference and spread. Urban forestry program specialist Brian Rucker with the Tennessee Division of Forestry measured the tree and determined it is the second largest on record and will assume championship status if the current champion dies.
The exact age of the tree can’t be determined unless someone takes samples and analyzes the tree, Rucker said, and he didn’t want to guess at its age but said “it’s definitely an old tree.”