Waipukurau business and building owners in Ruataniwha St are being asked to give feedback to the CHB District Council on what they would like to see in place of the trees that line the street, which need to be removed.
An informal consultation evening was held on Thursday to present options to replace the trees, planted as part of a major upgrade of the main street in about 2002.
In more recent years, the leaf fall and damage to the pavement caused by the tree roots, which in some places had rippled the footpath slightly causing a safety hazard, had contributed to flooding, including into shops during heavy rain events, as well as blocked guttering and potential damage to awnings.
Story Clothing owner and CHB district councillor Gerard Minehan said the trees had not been maintained enough over the years.
"The one outside my shop has got so big now the leaves are falling into the veranda guttering, and one time water backed up caused the lights to pop.