As our cherished oak gathers energy from the longer days of sunshine to prepare for spring buds, our timeline has been updated with some events from the past few weeks. They highlight the continuing long, curvy road in our efforts to preserve it, even as obstacles are thrown our way. These events have been added to our Riverland Property Timeline and are described below in more detail.
Species Challenge: In February, the City of Sterling Heights’s City Planning and Development Manager Jake Parcell and City Development Director Jason Castor attempted to challenge the certification board’s identification of our oak, claiming it was a Sawtooth Oak instead. If true, this claim would be problematic as a Sawtooth is a non-native oak, considered invasive in some parts, with much less ecological value than a centuries-old native tree.
Interestingly, this occurred shortly after the 2nd C & G Newspaper article: Residents protest plan to destroy tree older than the United States. (archive) on February 14, 2025, the citizen petition started, yet 6 months after the historic tree was brought to the City Council’s attention in August 2024. Given the residents’ increased attention and concerns, it appeared it might be a backdoor attempt to sabotage the story, but the true motivations remain unclear.
The Michigan Botanical Society cooperatively went through due diligence — again — reviewing the new claims by the City of Sterling Heights personnel and compared existing evidence. It was done as part of the certification process, so kudos to them for indulging the inquiry and explaining why. All of the existing data was now reviewed with a panel consisting of a retired DNR forester, a Professor of Research Botany, and the original certifiers and nominator, to reconfirm, unanimously, that the Sterling Oak is a Chinkapin Oak (Quercus muehlenbergii). Despite the city’s claims, our tree does not have the unique characteristics of a Sawtooth, namely in leaves and acorns (and conversely, our tree does have the attributes of a Chinkapin in leaves and acorns).
The challenge was dismissed based on the photo, video, and physical evidence of our specific tree. One needs to be careful when “Googling” pictures and information online. There are many inconsistencies and simply wrong or outdated information, especially for a tree of this age, size, and species. Logically, given the tree’s approximated age, one might wonder how a tree from Asia was planted centuries ago in Michigan (before it was Michigan).
Michigan EGLE Update: Michigan EGLE indicated via email on March 12, 2025 that the Pre-Application Meeting Request process was completed with concerns reviewed with the applicant (ie. developer). From our very basic understanding of EGLE’s procedures, the Pre-Application Meeting is a procedural meeting available upon request as part of Michigan’s Wetlands Protection Act. It is informational only to review and communicate the concerns (there are many) regarding the submitted development plans and the impacted regulated wetlands.
The six regulated wetlands were previously pointed out on our timeline, and noted as far back as 2017. However, this is the conclusion of this procedural step in compliance with Michigan’s Part 303 Wetlands Protection Act and Part 301 for Inland Lakes and Streams. (archive) The next step would be for the developer to apply formally with final development plans, assuming the issues expressed by EGLE are addressed. As of this posting, that application appears to be pending. With any hope, it will remain that way.
Land Closing Still Pending: Close followers of this development may recall that part of the closing conditions for property transfer from the City of Sterling Heights to CCF Development Grillo Limited Dividend Housing Association LLC involves the following (as per the 8/7/2024 published purchasing agreement):
“10.3 EGLE and MSHDA Approvals. Purchaser shall have secured all requisite approvals of both EGLE and MSHDA to allow the Purchaser to close on acquisition of Riverland Park.
We know the EGLE application is pending, let alone any approvals. The MSHDA approvals for financing are also believed to be still pending. No other public knowledge seems to be available, so should someone know more, please drop us a note. Unlike an ancient tree, our roots and reach are limited!
The purchase agreement also states in Item 9.2: “If the results of the Environmental Site Assessment indicate the presence of any recognized environmental condition(s), any contamination of the Premises or any other environmental condition which may, in the Purchaser’s discretion, constitute a potential environmental problem, Purchaser, in Purchaser’s sole discretion, shall then have the option, on or before the expiration of the Due Diligence Period to terminate this Agreement.“
While best left to attorneys, it would appear there is a “walk-away” clause depending on what one constitutes as a “potential environmental problem.” Of course, in our opinion (as well as EGLE it seems) – there are many. The purchase agreement also highlights a closing deadline of January 1, 2026, by which either party can walk away.
Ultimately, it seems our tree’s fate is not yet sealed, and that’s reason enough to not give up hope yet.
Petition Update: At the time of publication of this post – the petition started by resident Emily Young now has 1733 signatures (64% in Sterling Heights) with many wonderful comments. Wow!!! Thanks to all of you and especially Emily for bringing in so many people to care about our historical tree.
That’s all the updates for now. We look forward to seeing the Sterling Chinkapin Oak bud and leaf out for spring—waking up to a new season of feeding and supporting wildlife and cleaning our air as it has for centuries! As always, feel free to leave a question or comment below or subscribe for future updates. We hope this has been helpful. Thanks to all of you for following and supporting this extraordinary effort to save this tree for us and future generations in Sterling Heights!
Leave a Reply