Issue link: https://imageup.uberflip.com/i/1211649
FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | MARCH 2020 21 Let's talk trees. Since being on the Landscape Committee I've learned that with quite a few of our residents it's either a "love them" or "hate them" situation. We have a lot of trees in our community. Some of them are overcrowded, and yes, we, as a committee, are addressing that situation. It will be an on-going project that could and probably will, take several years to finish. And it should take that long. Why? Because removal of trees is not something to be taken lightly. First, it's expensive to do. And the Landscape Committee is already entrusted with the second largest budget of our HOA dollars. So we do not take lightly the spending of even more of your HOA dollars. Second, the trees here add to the beauty of our homes, our streets, and our trails in more ways then just being green. They are home to a multitude of birds; they turn carbon dioxide into oxygen thereby cleaning the air of harmful emissions. They cool us by shading us from the hot summer sun. They can even provide a windbreak from the "breezes" here in Beaumont. On the Landscape Committee we have a set of guidelines we follow when someone requests that a tree be removed. We meet with that homeowner, listen to their issue(s), and discuss a possible resolution with them. We cannot just take out a tree. It would be way too costly to do that for every request. Sometimes we've not been asked to remove a single tree, but we've been asked to consider removing a whole set of trees in that neighborhood, usually because the trees are dropping something, be it fruit, leaves, or seeds. We just can't do that. We have to follow guidelines set up to protect the beauty of our community, which then, as a sideline, protects the value of our homes. But we can, have, and will remove and replace an HOA maintained tree that is dead, diseased beyond cure or causing proven physical damage to property. Trees, whether you love them or hate them, were part of the beauty that encouraged you to buy your home here at Four Seasons. We, as a committee, are vested in protecting that beauty which then also protects your home's value. We volunteer many hours ensuring you and your guests that "wow factor" of beauty when you enter our community's gates. If you'd like to be a part of those decisions please consider joining us and becoming a part of our committee. ~ Nanette Scott, (951) 692-5994 Landscape Committee