Chatham County homeowner moves to save 300-year-old “exceptional” oak threatened by powerline path

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - A planned high-voltage transmission line by Georgia Power has sparked controversy in Chatham County, where residents are pushing for a change in the project’s path to save a centuries-old oak tree they consider priceless.

The dispute centers on a property off Little Neck Road, where a sprawling oak tree—estimated to be around 300 years old—stands in the front yard of homeowner Paul Grizzard. Survey stakes marking the proposed transmission line stretch across the property, extending past the massive tree that has become the focal point of the debate.

“I would have not put the home here, had it not been for the tree,” Grizzard said. He has lived in the house for decades, but the oak predates the home by centuries.

Grizzard and his partner, Jim Ball, say they were initially told that only a few branches would need to be trimmed to accommodate the power lines. They claim they were only recently informed that the entire tree would have to be removed.

“We didn’t have a problem with the power lines as long as the tree’s there,” Ball said.

A spokesperson for Georgia Power confirmed that two oak trees along the route had been identified for removal. The company maintains that the transmission line’s path was carefully designed to minimize environmental impact while meeting growing energy demands.

“It means that rates won’t go up, it means that we can meet the demand and it takes the pressure off our families and small businesses,” said Josh Peacock, an external communicator for Georgia Power.

The oak’s size makes the potential removal a significant undertaking. The tree spans from one driveway to another, its wide canopy dominating the front of the property. But for Grizzard and Ball, its importance goes far beyond its physical dimensions.

Grizzard shared that Ball suffered a devastating accident that left him paralyzed for two years. During that time, Ball spent countless hours on the front porch beneath the oak’s canopy.

“Jim was in an accident. His neck was broken. He was paralyzed and for two years he was in a wheelchair and he sat on this front porch and the tree is responsible, I believe, for me not having to carry a wheelchair and push him,” Grizzard said, describing the shade and comfort the tree provided during Ball’s recovery.

In a dramatic development, a Chatham County arborist engineer recently designated the oak as “exceptional.” Under county ordinance, that classification recognizes the tree as a public landmark that “shall not be destroyed or endangered.”

The designation creates a major obstacle for Georgia Power’s plans. Years of project planning now stand at odds with Chatham County’s land-disturbing activities ordinance, setting the stage for a potential legal and regulatory battle.

For Grizzard and Ball, the ruling offers hope that their historic oak—and the memories rooted beneath it—may yet be spared.