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10 | OHCC LIVING | AUGUST 2021 | Landscape Committee The Trees of Life So You Want to Remove A Tree… Trees benefit our lives and our environment in many ways. Why would you want to remove a tree when at the simplest level, we know trees provide the comfort of shade and the oxygen that we breathe, improving air quality by reducing carbon dioxide out of the air. Their variety adds beauty to our lives. They give us a sense of stability merely by their size and their ambiance provide the feeling of permanence and history. An important long-standing benefit and area of interest for us at some point is that of increasing our property values. In September 2020, we wrote an article about trees in general and the importance of trees for our environment. In particular we pointed out the aspects that trees provide to life – our lives. Also, in the article, we pointed out that since OHCC was developed with its eight villages (35 years ago), we have lost nearly 50 percent of our tree canopy. However, each year, the Arborist identifies trees for trimming or removal, and many new trees – not just plants – are being added to our canopy and newly planted slopes. The latter is now at the forefront of urban forestry and city planning, acknowledging the benefit of trees to human welfare. San Diego plans to add 30,000 trees in urban and suburban areas in the next few years. The key strategy for planting of trees is, "the right tree at the right site for the right reason." This strategy is a guiding light for replacement of trees in OHCC which is emerging as an area for closer attention to our OHCC Tree Maintenance Policy. Often what was or was thought to be of increased home value becomes a nuisance to a homeowner because they experience droppings = a common characteristic of trees, especially seasonal deciduous species that lose their leaves, or evergreens, like pines, that drop needles, small or large cones, or carrotwoods that defy their beauty by dropping their "fruits." There has been a significant increase in the number of homeowners' requests to address trees in the Master Common areas, which may be adjacent to HO's front or back yards. The requests have begun to shift from trimming to removal. The latter creates a more difficult decision when the tree is healthy. Following are some highlights from the Tree Maintenance Policy, revised and approved by Master Board, May 20, 2021. It is available in full on the website (from the Home Page, go to the Boards/ Villages/Committees tab, go to Committee, go to Landscape, click the link "Tree Maintenance Policy adopted 05/20/21") or copies can be provided from the HOA Office or through your Village Board Landscape Chair/ Liaison. "The Master Board will rely on the input from the Landscape Committee, the Landscape Operations Director and if they deem necessary, a Registered Consulting Arborist, to make a prudent business decision. However, it will be the responsibility of the Master Board to determine the final course of action. Recommendations for removal or replacement of tree(s) or shrub(s) will be based on the input from the Landscape Committee and Landscape Operations Director. Replacements will depend on the appropriate species for the size and space and will be relocated so as to prevent recurrence of the problem. Trimming should be preferred whenever possible with removal to be the exception. Inconvenience of leaf, bark or other droppings from common area trees onto a homeowner's property is considered normal landscaping maintenance for which the homeowner is to assume responsibility. While such droppings can be a quality of life nuisance, this may not rise to the level of quality of life danger as noted below. Trimming Trees will be trimmed if they are one or more of the following: A. Too large for their space; notably distance between trunk and property line. B. Causing excessive mess, shade, or damage to property or vegetation. C. Poorly balanced and in need of restructuring. Removal If problems with a tree cannot be resolved and their life extended by trimming, they will be removed if there are one or more of the following: A. Diseased and cannot be treated. B. Excessive debris causing potential damage to property or vegetation. C. A potential danger for persons or property, such as root invasion causing uneven grounds. D. Is too large for its location and space, and extensive trimming is not practical. Upon receiving request(s) for removal by homeowner(s), HOA staff will notify the respective Village Board for their input. In the event that a tree is considered for removal, a majority of the landscape committee will visit the site and a majority vote will be required to recommend removal. Removed trees will be replaced with a species suitable for the area based on its mature height and size. If the space is too small for a tree, other appropriate plant materials, such as shrubs will be used. Emergency Tree Removal If a tree falls or is belatedly recognized as a hazard, that should not await inclusion in a scheduled trim-removal action, it will be trimmed or removed promptly.

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