An online petition urges a developer to save some large old trees at the site of a major project planned in St. Elmo's business district.
The petition asks that a "giant oak and row of cherry trees" be spared at the location of the former SunTrust Bank.
A four-story parking garage and hotel are planned at the site.
The developer first must repair a broken culvert that runs under the property and caused a sinkhole several years ago.
The petition says: "We the undersigned hereby support the protection of the giant oak and row of cherry trees around the old SunTrust Bank in downtown St. Elmo. The developer plans a four-story parking garage involving destruction of the healthy, life-supporting canopy.
"We encourage their design to work around demolition for their own place-making and positive public relations as well as for the people who love these trees and the critters they house and the shade we are blessed with, and:
air-cleaning
life-sustaining wildlife habitat
irreplaceable beauty
sound and charm barrier to the roar of Chattem Chemicals
stormwater control
urgent urban biodiversity
quality of life for present and future generations
sustainability and the triple bottom line (economy, environment, community)