Residents urged the council during public comment to preserve a wooded parcel on North Van Dyke that they said contains an ancient Chinquapin oak and other landmark trees.

"It is just a tree. But it's so much more than just a tree," resident Carol Chi told council, urging the city to retain the parcel as parkland. She said the site contains wetlands, identified landmark trees and that the parcel's master-plan designation (North Van Dyke Area, NVDA) recommends conservation. Chi said federal ARPA funds had been used in a prior transaction involving the site and argued the city should not allow a developer to clear the forested area.

City Manager Mark Vanderpool responded during administrative reports that the city has made a commitment to conservation, citing an 80-acre nature preserve and recent purchases to preserve open space; Vanderpool said North Van Dyke is a redevelopment area and that the city is pursuing a master-plan-driven approach that balances redevelopment and conservation.

No formal action was taken on the public appeals at the meeting; councilors and staff said they would continue to consider NVDA master-plan recommendations and conservation priorities.