Neighboring developer chops down two mature ash trees on homeowner's property, to their absolute horror when they return home: 'This is the holy grail of tree law'

• The homeowner had this to say about their experience; they also responded to some community members in the comments.

  "I believe it was a type of Ash Tree. Photo 3 is the best photo I can find of it at the moment, before it got cut down.

  I received a letter about it being trimmed attached to my doorstep, but that was the only notification I received. It is above 12" in diameter at 4 feet tall, which might be the legal requirement (e.g., protected status) for this type of tree in my area (need to double-check this).

  I'm absolutely shocked, this is not pruning, this completely ki**ed the two trees in my backyard, and without permits from the city."

• They shared this photo of the trees before the "trimming" took place

  
  via LividWalk8179

• This was the sight they returned home to

  
  via LividWalk8179

• They received this notice from the company contracted by the developer that purchased the empty lot next door, notifying them of the "trimming" to take place

  
  via LividWalk8179

• Tree law sounds like something that sounds completely unserious, but it is a serious business. Mature, fully grown trees have a surprising amount of replacement value, and when cowboy would-be lumberjacks take matters into their own hands and chop down (often their neighbor's) trees without a permit, they're practically begging to open their wallet and pay damages.

• In a lot of areas, you're entitled to prune branches from your neighbor's trees that are hanging over your side of the boundary, but there are often limitations to this where it would jeopardize the health or structural integrity of the tree. The intention here is that you can't just go chopping silly nilly at your neighbor's tree like Elmer Fudd with an axe and actually have to approach the situation with a little tact and planning. And properly discussing it with your neighbors is always nice too. 

  Now, I'm no lawyer, but I do have a degree in biology, not that I need it to say the health of the has been compromised here. The terms "pruning" and "trimming" are entirely out of their depths in this case, and far more appropriate terms would be "logged" or "felled."

  Using the word "trimming" here is akin to going to your barber for a haircut and a shave, and as you're seated down in the chair, they set down the razor and wheel out a guillotine.

• 
  via LividWalk8179

• Commenters of the r/treelaw online community shared their advice

  
  via LividWalk8179
• 
  via LividWalk8179
• 
  via LividWalk8179
• 
  via LividWalk8179
• 
  via LividWalk8179
• 
  via LividWalk8179
• 
  via LividWalk8179
• 
  via LividWalk8179
• 
  via LividWalk8179
• 
  via LividWalk8179
• 
  via LividWalk8179
• 
  via LividWalk8179
• 
  via LividWalk8179
• 
  via LividWalk8179
• 
  via LividWalk8179
• 
  via LividWalk8179
• 
  via LividWalk8179
• 
  via LividWalk8179
• 
  via LividWalk8179
• 
  via LividWalk8179

Tags