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Snell Isle may replace date palms with royals

By JON WILSON
Published September 28, 2005

ST. PETERSBURG - Several problems, including the fear of a fungus, have the Snell Isle Property Owners Association looking into replacing Canary Island date palms that have long been features of the neighborhood's entryway.

Along Snell Isle Boulevard are about 72 date palms planted about 20 years ago, said Barbara Heck, association president.

Among the replacement trees under consideration are royal palms, tall, slender trees that are visible elsewhere along the boulevard. "We're very concerned about the look. We've babied these beauties along for so long. We'd like to have the same beautiful look along Snell Isle Boulevard and we're faced with a serious problem. We're trying to find the best solution," Heck said.

But nothing has been decided, she emphasized Tuesday.

"We've tabled the discussion," she said. "No action is being taken one way or another."

A recent issue of the association's newsletter cited five reasons for looking at the Canary Island dates' future.

Among them: The trees cost $5,000 yearly to maintain. Their fan-like growth pattern tends to hinder vision from driveways and block walkways.

Royal palms don't block fields of vision, are in keeping with the neighborhood's Mediterranean theme and are less expensive to maintain.

The exchange would generate money for use in completing the Snell Isle Boulevard lighting project.

Another reason is a fungus that has attacked a few Canary Island dates in the city-maintained parkway just in front of the Vinoy Resort golf club, according to the newsletter.

There is concern that the fungus, which resulted in the removal of the affected trees, could spread to the ones the property owners' association maintains, Heck said.

The situation has been aired in neighborhood meetings, where a number of proposals were raised, Heck said.

"There are lot of opinions in the neighborhood and we want to sort those out," she said.

[Last modified September 28, 2005, 04:37:41]