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| OHCC LIVING | SEPTEMBER 2020 | 5 "Trees provide myriad benefits in our environment, making vital contributions to a sense of community." This is an opening statement in the 2017 five year plan of a grant awarded to City of San Diego by the California Urban Forestry, as part of directing efforts to improve our — not natural — but our urban forests, which include trees on public and private property." Most, if not all, would heartily agree. We understand the benefits of trees: improving air quality, providing oxygen for our public health, mitigating climate change, providing shade, reducing excessive water runoff, and, as a long standing benefit, increasing property values. As OHCC was developed with eight villages, nearly 4,000 trees were planted. In urban forestry planning that displays some knowledge of the benefit that number of trees would yield as Tree Canopy, creating an entire ecosystem. Now 35 years later, it is our responsibility to maintain it because it is vital in contributing to our human welfare. As challenges to the environment occur, it is also imperative that we consider ourselves stakeholders in protecting our tree canopies, which cool the urban heat, reduce energy use and encourage active lifestyles. One caveat used in tree planning and maintenance is "the right tree at the right site for the right reason." This is important because of the likelihood that trees will grow to their full potential and provide the greatest benefit. Today, OHCC has 2,745 trees, evidence of losses due to several factors, i.e., climate conditions, original planting choices, and personal homeowner lifestyle preferences. These factors make up a segment of our landscape maintenance plans and policies such as OHCC Tree Maintenance Policy and the General Pruning/ Trimming Guidelines for Shrubs and Vines. Many of our trees are planted adjacent to homeowner's properties in what is known as the Master Common Areas, accessible via back slopes or common area entry points along Leisure Village Way. The two above mentioned items are important for homeowners to become aware of in understanding the validity of a homeowner's request for specific actions to be taken with a tree. The Master Board has directed the Landscape Operations Director and the Landscape Committee to perform monthly inspections of homeowners' requests for actions and to forward their recommendations to the Master Board who then make a final decision. For this article, the Tree Maintenance Policy is of particular interest due to the increasing numbers of homeowners' requests being received for removal of trees. As noted in the policy, "the common area trees are for the enjoyment of all homeowners and are an important part of the community's 'legacy' environment. Trees take considerable time to reach maturity, therefore removal and replacement are performed as a last resort, when deemed to be necessary and essential." Trimming is preferred whenever possible with removal noted to be an exception. The most common request for removal is due to: the inconvenience of leaf, bark, or other droppings from the common area trees onto a homeowner's property. This is considered normal landscaping maintenance for which the homeowner is responsible. While such droppings can be a nuisance, they do not rise to the level of quality of life, unless a noted danger. By example, one's disdain for the nuisance and interference with a social quality of life is unlikely to meet the criteria for removal. It is interesting to note that herein often rests the challenge of balance between recognition of the vital attributes of trees and the inconvenience of those trees to one's lifestyle preferences. It is our hope to help with understanding the challenge and making the best choice of action. Landscape Committee: Trees

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