TRAVERSE CITY -- A Champion Black Willow tree located near the Grand Traverse Commons has been the center of debate for years.

Plans to possibly cut the the historic tree down to build a new road could change that. Tuesday night Traverse City Commissioners will decide how the historic tree should be preserved.

Archangel Ancient Tree Archive wants to take cuttings from the tree and either sell them or plant them around the region. The organization's co-founder David Milarch says the tree works like a sponge to cleanse water of all toxins and poisons. The Champion Black Willow tree located near the Grand Traverse Commons is the largest in the world.

Milarch says, "If we go there before the fact, before their demise, we can archive trees and save genetics. That way we can make, hundreds, thousands, or even millions of exact clones of this tree so it can live on and get as big as mom and help the environment."

Traverse City Planner, Ben Bifoss tells 7&4 News that construction for the Franke Road Extension could begin this summer.