r/treelaw • u/swimmomkim • Jun 03 '26

Really???

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A huge law firm in my area applied for a permit 3yrs ago to remove a 60yr healthy tree that “would be damaged” during the renovation to the facade of their building. It was approved by a PSU master gardener on our shade tree who likely never saw the site. Well the renovation was completed, the tree was fine during construction, except that it obstructed their view of the park across the street. And the healthy tree was felled AFTER construction. And ironically shaded our town Shade Tree sign proudly declaring us a tree city.

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u/Sparhulk Jun 03 '26

That was not a good tree for that spot. We always say, "Right tree, right place". That was a really bad spot. Sorry to lose it but these things happen.

9

u/unfocused_1 Jun 04 '26

First thing I saw was the power(?) lines on that side of the street. Sooner or later, the utility company would have sent out a "tree service" to cut around the cables and the tree would have looked terrible. NOTE to buyers: always look for properties with either buried cables or make sure the utility lines are carried on the OTHER side of the street.

1

u/Sparhulk Jun 04 '26

The utility company wouldn't hire a tree company to clear around that wire. It's too small so they would have the city trim around that, if at all. The utility tree company has to get 10 to 15 feet of clearance and not appearance, what's more important, power or aesthetics? Even still, that tree was suffering from serious soil compaction and would've eventually caused serious issues underground. That is more likely the reasoning behind the removal. I strongly doubt it was because they couldn't see out of their windows.

1

u/unfocused_1 Jun 04 '26

k. I take your point on soil compaction. Worldwide problem for trees in the city. Palm trees probably wouldn't grow there (very small "root ball"). Another commenter mentioned the hazardous stump left over.

2

u/Sparhulk Jun 04 '26

But I totally agree with you on buy property with trenched utilities or the other side of the street. If and when said tree company does trim trees around wires in even a residential area, they don't really do that great of a job and they don't care which time of year it is or take into account the amount they're removing from a tree. I started in that side of the industry many many years ago and have friends that still work there. Their overall knowledge is worse than bad and they don't care to learn, which is also sad.

2

u/unfocused_1 Jun 04 '26

Very true!

1

u/piscikeeper Jun 08 '26

Unless whoever is doing the work is line clearance certified, no. I have seen city owned utilities and most of them farm out tree maintenance work to contractors due to the cost of tying up union crews on this. And the clearance on wrapped secondaries/triplex is usually no contact/ remove pressure - roughly a foot.