Your Voice: Tree trimming run amok
by Helen Evans, Tracy
Sep 27, 2012 | 2632 views | 6 6 comments | 4 4 recommendations | email to a friend | print
EDITOR,

On Sept. 11, before 8 a.m., city tree workers came around to trim trees. I was not home at that time. When I arrived home a little before 8:30 a.m., they had cut branches from two of my oak trees, which the city had not planted.

The trees had been planted by one of my sons in honor his father after he had passed away.

The trees were nice and full and not under any wires. Now, when look out of my kitchen window, all I see are long trunks instead of nice trees.

The city is always complaining about not having money, yet they can go around trimming and cutting

branches and limbs from trees on private property. They gave me no prior notice they were considering trimming the trees.

Instead of cutting trees they have no right to touch, they should spend money getting rid of the raccoons, which might be carrying rabies and are ruining people’s yards.

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Comments
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slsmn
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October 06, 2012
Hi, it depends on where the trees were planted. Nearly everywhere, the first 5 to 10 feet from the street are actually an easement to the city. You own it, but they have control over it. If you choose to plant trees in that area, they can actually cut them down if they aren't the right type, or make too much mess in the street, or tear up the sidewalk or whatever. Also, any tree that overhangs the street may not have any limbs or branches hanging lower than 14 feet where it is over the street.

My recommendation is to check the information from when you bought your house, or the plot plan with the County and see exactly where the easement is, and make sure to plant anything you really want to keep behind that line. If it is on a part of the clear property, and they touch it, you have the right to seek legal action. Unfortunately, if it was on the easement, you do not.

I'm not saying this is what happened in your case, your trees may have been planted behind the easement line. But the city tree trimmers just come through and trim anything within that easement area regardless of what kind of tree it is.

Sorry to hear this happened to you.
Reply
Sneaky
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October 07, 2012
Yes. I had assumed the root of the problem was something along these lines. My tree is about 3ft from the sidewalk. No doubt there was some easement clause buried 50 pages into the 300 or so pages of paperwork I signed when buying the house and it is now something I just have to live with. That said, I wont fall for it again. No easement of any sort on the next property I buy. The whole concept is un-American. How can someone else have control over something I own? If someone else has control over it then I dont actually own it.
Ornley_Gumfudgen
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October 07, 2012
Sneaky

Yer probably gonna have a though time findin a place ta live if ya thank yer gonna buy property that don't have some type of easment on it. Cartinly not anywhare in a town or city that provides roads, sidewalks an utilities like sewer an water. Got a small place out in th country an even thair, way out in th middle of nowhare, thair's an easment fer th county maintained road an th telephone an electrical utilities as well.

Not sayin that places without easements don't exist but thair not all that available ta th general public unless ya live way out in th boonies whair thair is no other development around. Then phone an electrical services come with a high price tag makin such thangs unaffordable fer most people.

Wonder why people make one of th most important investments of thair life, thair home an th property it sits on, yet apparently don't take th time ta completely understand th positives an negatives that come along with it in th form of easements?
Sneaky
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September 28, 2012
Sorry but no sympathy on the racoons. Your property, your problem.
Reply
Sneaky
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September 28, 2012
That said, I fully support folks being free to shoot vermin on the property.
Sneaky
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September 28, 2012
Preaching to the chior, you are. The same thing happened to me about two years a go, when the economy was even worse. One day I came home to mangled trees on my own property. No announcement from the city or explanation on why they were trimming trees on my property. One of many things that tells me that no matter how much they cry poor they actually have far too much money.
Reply


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