A. The plants and trees were cleared away as part of the construction project, but their removal had nothing to do with aesthetics, according to Karyl Lynn Bruckner, project manager at Avante Properties.

The plants were cut from the median on Midvale at Tokay Boulevard in preparation for the creation of a left-turn lane that will allow people to easily get to the new Sequoya Commons development while traveling south on Midvale Boulevard, Bruckner said.

The vegetation was removed in the fall -- except for some stumps that weren 't removed before the first snow -- so the new lane could be built early this spring, she said.

Bruckner said the plants ' removal was approved by the city, and developers worked with the city forester on the project.

Retail space and 45 condominiums at the site should be completed by mid-June. The 20,000-square-foot Madison Public Library will start operations in its bigger space during the early fall. A second phase of construction on the north side of the 3.6 acre-lot will begin in late 2008.

-- Brittany Schoepp

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