Major Tech Companies Seeking Permission To Cut Down 'Heritage' Trees
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. (AP) - Five companies, including Google and Microsoft, are seeking permits to get rid of about 300 "heritage" redwood, cedar and oak trees standing in the way of development plans.
San Jose television station KNTV reports Wednesday (http://bit.ly/1R4Gw5t) the high-tech giants along with three other companies would have to replace the trees they cut down.
The city of Mountain View defines a "heritage" tree as an oak, cedar or redwood tree that stands at least 54 feet tall and with a circumference of 48 inches or more.
Google is asking to cut down 100 "heritage" trees as it prepares to build a new campus.
Senior Mountain View city planner Stephanie Williams say that any the replacement trees will "far exceed" what Google cuts down.
Microsoft and tech companies Intuit and Symantec and El Camino Hospital have asked for approval to remove 196 "heritage" trees.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.
