Neighbors say trees were mysteriously planted in front yards

ATLANTA — There's a case of mysterious trees in a southwest Atlanta neighborhood. Out of nowhere in late January, neighbors said dozens of trees were planted right in their front yards.

“I was confused. I had no idea that they were even being planted,” neighbor Alezandra Turner said. "I never received any notice."

Many of the trees along Briar Ridge Way were planted directly under power lines, adding insult to injury for the neighbors.

“I was perplexed, stunned and bewildered," neighbor Stephanie Clements said. “Once they mature, they will hit the power lines.”

Finally, after one neighbor told Channel 2 Action News she begged for information, crews told her they were planting the trees for the city of Atlanta.

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“He said, 'We have direct orders.' And he actually showed me the map of my neighborhood with numbers indicating where each tree was supposed to be planted,” Turner said.

Neighbors said the city never told them why the trees were planted.

After Channel 2's Justin Wilfon contacted the city, a spokesperson told him the trees were planted in the public right of way to maintain a "thriving tree canopy."

The spokesperson also said the city is now working to modify the trees to ease neighbors' concerns.

“We don’t want the trees. Period. Come get them,” Clements said.

The city said the contractor involved sent out a notice about the tree plantings previous to the work being done, but neighbors said they did not get any notice.

Here's the full statement from the city of Atlanta:

"The City of Atlanta routinely plants trees throughout the city—including the public right of way—in an effort to maintain a thriving tree canopy in accordance with the City’s tree ordinance.

"The Department of Parks and Recreation was made aware of concerns from neighbors on a recent series of routine tree plantings and has already worked with the contractor and Council District to modify the original plans. This process is currently underway and expected to be completed by next week, weather permitting."

Cox Media Group