We had a large Bradford pear tree cut down yesterday--hate to see a tree go--especially since I live in "Huntington Forest". We lost one branch during a storm, and we wanted to save the tree. However, our neighbor did not like our pear tree approaching his property. After receiving a letter from his attorney (yes, that's correct), we talked to an arborist at Bartlett Tree Experts, and he said that if we just trimmed the side of the tree that approached the neighbor's property, the tree would be unbalanced and subject to future damage. We always had our trees trimmed professionally and wires installed to strengthen branches (especially the Bradford pears) so that they could last as long as possible. They created a nice border between our house and the neighboring property.
Because I spend so much time on my screened porch, I loved the privacy that tree provided. Now it's gone.
This is my view now: instead of nice greenery, I see the neighbor's deck. Not so private.
So, my next project will be to create some privacy. Because our porch is up high off the 2nd level of the house, it will take a tree some years to get there. We do have a little skinny maple tree there that might grow better now that the big pear tree is gone--time will tell.
It is interesting that you chose to put your comments in the public domain since there are some relevant and critical facts missing. Your post implies that your neighbors acted frivolously, which is certainly not the case. This has been a continuing issue for a number of years. Your post also implies that this was a matter of the violation of your privacy and comfort, Actually, it was a matter of safety. Your post also states that you had your trees trimmed on a regular basis. That is not the case. In fact, to the neighbors' knowledge, the last time your tree was trimmed was several years ago, and your neighbors paid for it when they were having some of their own trees trimmed.
ReplyDeleteYou state that your neighbors had their lawyer send you a letter because your tree was approaching their property. The term used in the letter was "encroaching", not "approaching". In fact, a branch of your tree was touching the roof of your neighbor's house. The letter was sent on the advice of the neighbor's insurance company to alert you to the fact that your insurance company, not the neighbor's, would be responsible for paying for any damage to the neighbor's property that resulted from your tree's falling. In the absence of such a letter, the neighbor's insurance company would have had to pay. The insurance adjustor who came to the neighbor's property after the ice storm in 2009 offered that advice, stating that it was not a matter of if, but when, your tree fell and came through the neighbor's kitchen window. Fortunately, that did not occur. When the top of your tree fell, it landed entirely on your property. The fact that the letter was sent in 2012 indicates that this was not a frivolous or precipitous action on your neighbor's part. If you personally had not been alerted to your neighbor's concern before the letter was sent, other members of your household certainly had been told on a number of occasions.
If you choose to post other statements on this matter in the public domain, please include all the facts.