OMG, the gall of some people!

[Forestgal]

I did talk to the HOA and they're siding with her in that the tree is too big for the postage stamp yard and never should have been allowed to get that big. She recommended to me tht i remove the tree.

Who's responsible for the landscaping in the front of the units? Where I live it's the HOA's responsibility. When I was on the board we always had issues with people who wanted to plant their own stuff and then have the HOA's landscaping company take care of it. We finally got to the point that we said that we were going to take care of everything in the front & if people planted stuff there & didn't like how it was cared for it was just too bad.

If it's really an HOA responsibility then I'd be asking THEM to get the arborist & deal with it -- even if it means taking down the tree. They may be right that it's too big for the space, Li, and the root system might be undermining your foundation ... I'm just saying ...

Laura

[longdog2]

It's always a shame to lose a beautiful tree. And it would have been so much better if there could have been a discussion between neighbors about the problems before an incident like this occurred. Perhaps an arborist can trim the tree and shape it; however, you may find that they recommend taking it down because it is so large in such a tiny area. Home improvement shows often recommend taking a tree out when it covers so much of your house. It also covers most of both your neighbors houses. Have you talked to the neighbors on the other side of your house? It may just be the picture but it also looks extremely close to the front of all three houses. Have there ever been any complaints about roots affecting the foundation or branches rubbing the roof or siding of any of the houses? If the branches over the sidewalk were less than 8 feet off the ground, the neighbor may not even be in trouble for cutting those as towns (not the HOA) often have rules about heights over sidewalks and driveways to prevent sidewalk users from being injured. I know our town has a similar rule. I hope you can get this all resolved without any more emotional trauma than what you have been through already.

[Nasoosie]

How sad and stupid and totally maddening for you, Li. I belong to a homeowners' association in FL, and I really have no idea what the rules down there are like, but, thank heavens the neighbors on both sides of me are the same people----they own both places. And, the whole neighborhood seems to get along like clockwork. No one, and I mean NO one, would dare trespass on another's property for any reasons whatsoever, without the owner's permission.

I hope things can be done to save the tree and your emotional well-being!

Now, up here in the Adirondacks, my nearest neighbor is about a half mile away!

[JanetA]

the world is full of A-HOLES!!!

[flick4411]

Janet, you are oh-so-right. The HOA doesn't seem to understand that this mock cherry tree doesn't have deep roots. The tree has been this large for many years, and there's no intrusion of any kind. The shallow roots make it a good small yard tree. But shallow doesn't mean unstable. The tree was always trimmed from the backside and kept off all roofs. It doesn't go beyond the sidewalk up to my door. But it seems that some (specifically the HOA) have forgotten that my neighbor HAD NO RIGHT to tresspass on my property. I was reachable and she knew that. She could have approached my tenants who she knew are my best friends. She waited to do this until we were all gone--including another neighbor who would have stopped her if she'd seen it happening...as it was, the other neighbor was out of town for the weekend. Maybe the tree has reached maximum life, but that should be my call. Unless the tree endangers property or lives, it's part of my property and not hers. However, if she gets the arborist in to make the tree look better, I'll let it go. She's just lucky I wasn't there when it was done...or maybe I'm the lucky one, cuz I could imagine my clocking her right in the schnoz! How dare she do this...

[cpatinjones]

Upsetting!

[ali1257]

Just saw this thread - what a crummy neighbor. I hope it gets resolved soon and that a buyer will come along and you won't have to deal with her or the HOA again.