Church fined $4000 trimming their own trees too much

[NCTexan]

Charlotte Observer:

 

Albemarle Road church fined $100 per branch for excessive tree pruning

 

 

Every two to three years, Eddie Sales trims and prunes the crape myrtles at his church, Albemarle Road Presbyterian Church.

 

But this year, the city of Charlotte cited the church for improperly pruning its trees.

 

"We always keep our trees trimmed back because you don't want to worry about them hanging down in the way," said Sales, a church member.

 

The church was fined $100 per branch cut for excessive pruning, bringing the violation to $4,000.

 

"I just couldn't believe it when I heard about it," Sales said. "We trim our trees back every three years all over our property, and this is the first time we have been fined."

 

"The purpose of the tree ordinance is to protect trees," said Tom Johnson, senior urban forester for city of Charlotte Land Development Division.

 

"Charlotte has always been known as the city of trees. When we take down trees, we need to replace these trees."

 

Individuals who would like to trim their trees should call the city foresters to receive a free permit to conduct the landscape work.

 

Foresters will then meet with the person receiving the permit and give instructions on how to properly trim their trees, Johnson said.

 

The state Division of Forestry recommends that anyone trimming trees should be certified by the National Horticulture Board, but certification is not required to receive a permit.

 

=================================

 

This is frapping unbelievable... not only as an assault on private rights, but as a waste of time and requiring an army of idiot bureaucrats.

 

 

[righteousmomma]

YEP! Most of the South commits "crepemurder" every year. Charlotte stands to make millions.

What a great use of tax payer resources when they had rioting in down town Chicago this weekend.(sarcasm alert)

 

This is just an asinine move and mandate by the city of Charlotte.

[pollyannaish]

Our city passed an ordinance about 18 years ago that says that while each property owner is responsible for the street trees, they can only be pruned by a licensed arborist to preserve the beauty and integrity of our old trees.

 

At the time, there was only one licensed arborist in the county and his fee per tree was $1500. Forget that. I used to sneak out after dark to trim them and would run into all the neighbors out trimming theirs after dark too. We used to get a good laugh out of it.

 

Over time, the trees have fallen during windstorms, so we are now only a one-tree criminal anymore. Don't even get me started on the hassles they gave us over the fence because they have issues based on "aesthetics." Why anyone would think a chain link fence is more beautiful than a beautifully designed wood fence is beyond me. But that's liberals for you.

 

Anyway, the irony is that the power, phone and cable companies are all allowed to come through and whack the middle out of your street trees if they feel like it. No arborist needed. But no, we can't be trusted to keep the aesthetics of our own trees intact.

[NCTexan]

Anyway, the irony is that the power, phone and cable companies are all allowed to come through and whack the middle out of your street trees if they feel like it. No arborist needed. But no, we can't be trusted to keep the aesthetics of our own trees intact.

Yes Pollyannaish!

That's cuz we ain't as smart as da guvment folks.

[clearvision]

They are calling crape myrtles trees? They are just overgrown bushes and grow like weeds.