Tree Removal Stirs Legal Debate

Fairhope, Alabama





CURRENT TREE ORDINANCES DO NOT APPLY THERE

The removal of a big oak tree at 16 Bayview Avenue sparked a debate on social media about whether the city's tree protection should be extended to residential property ... as well as commercial as it is now. 

Former mayor Kant proposed that be done about five years ago to protect the city's tree canopy, but it gained no traction with the city council at that time.

County records indicate the lot is owned by Anil Vira and was appraised at $415K for tax purposes.

Comments

Anonymous said…
We don’t know why the tree was cut down but if I owned the property I would cut it down as an absolute last resort. I do not think it would hurt to require the property owner to get approval to destroy something that has lived many decades. I get the impression that this was done to add parking space. I envision this could be handled by the planning department .
Anonymous said…
The lot is worth more with the tree.
Anonymous said…
no way when it cuts the size of the house you can build in half
Anonymous said…
way. just build the houss around it . happens allthe time!
N. Hale said…
When the entire community, through its elected representatives, crafts a law that requires the ENTIRE community to pony up the money to create an arboretum and fairly compensate the land owners, then pass that law.

Until then, you enjoy your property, and I'll enjoy mine--because next comes the committees that dictate the color you must paint your home, the style of your shutters, etc.

If overweening government and limited freedom is what you crave, there are far better states to reside in other than Alabama.
Anonymous said…
size matters
Anonymous said…
Maybe a liability issue as it had very large limbs over the neighbor's house.