Episcopal Diocese wastes no time in felling trees for parking lot
7:07 p.m. Wednesday, August 29, 2007
The Episcopal Diocese wasted little time in bringing down trees after the City council gave it the go ahead to build a parking lot behind Grace Cathedral. Neighbor Maura Dingman got word the trees were coming down after seeing it on the 49 News Web site.
"I find it extremely uncaring and offensive that they would rush with chainsaws the the morning after and start hacking away," Dingman said.
But a spokesperson for Episcopal Diocese said they waited until the Council's decision to bring down damaged and diseased trees.
The group Friends of Bethany Place filed an injunction because they believe the Diocese should have waited.
"I was livid. It showed callous disregard," said Anne Spiess, member of Friends of Bethany Place.
But the injunction comes too late for these trees.
The piece of property at the center of all the controversy is a parking lot for forty additional spaces for Grace Cathedral.
"They especially need parking for older and disabled people," said Melodie Woerman of the Kansas Episcopal Diocese.
Atchison Case
The Council's vote came after discussion of a case in Atchison that went all the way to the Kansas Supreme Court. The Court ruled that blocking demolition of a church building violated the nuns' right to practice their religion. "Do we infringe on the 1st and 14th amendment of the free exercise of religion?" asked Council member John Alcala. "I think the City probably faces some potential legal action whichever way you go," City attorney Brendon Long said.
Neighbors say because the land is next to a historic landmark, the diocese has no right to cut the trees and build the parking lot. The diocese says they have every right to do both.
"The appeal process doesn't have anything to do with the trees," Woerman said.
While the Diocese is pleased with the Council's unanimous decision, those who waited hours to testify believed Council members were swayed by the City Attorney's use of the Atchison Supreme Court case.
"Absolutely and it was an unfortunate manipulation of the counselor," Spiess said.
The Diocese has offered a peace offering to neighbors, a different green space.
"Resources can be put together to give the neighborhood people the proper park it can control and it really deserves," Woerman said.
But Friends of Bethany Place say they plan to appeal.
The College of the Sisters of Bethany moved to 8th and Polk in 1872.
It was an Episcopal girls school and closed in 1928.
In 1979, two of the buildings were placed on the state historical register.
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