HISD admits to pruning without permission on city property

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- The City of Houston is investigating HISD after the school district cut down four large trees on city right-of-way without permission.

The trees lines Sampson Street in front of the old Dodson Elementary School. The campus is now the Energy Institute High School.

The district admits it didn't ask before taking down the trees. A district spokesperson tells us the trees were brought down in advance of parking lot construction and to increase campus visibility. The district says it is "now coordinating with the City of Houston to develop a more comprehensive plan designed to address safety concerns without removing additional trees."

The City of Houston has codes protecting trees on city property. Property owners must get permission before cutting them down.

In the past, the city has both fined and forced violators to plant replacements trees at their own cost.

The city says the Parks Department is currently looking at the damage to determine the next step.