Why do developers clear all mature trees from lots when they build?

[Anonymous]

I love large trees, just not on my property, the best situation is to have grass and the area behind the backyard be a Forrest area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just went through this process. Believe it or not, Montgomery County basically requires the trees to come down to make room for underground wells as part of the rainwater management plan for a new construction permit. We had to fight tooth and nail to keep a beautiful old tree and were only able to keep it by agreeing to take down two smaller ones. Trees do serve a water management function (roots absorb runoff) but apparently a tree is not as good as a well.

MoCo here and can confirm that. Also, they charge a tree tax of $500/tree, based on lot size. You can plant a tree or pay the fee. The issue is the trees need such a separation that often they don't fit -- so it ends up being easier to just pay the fees rather than install non-confirming trees.

A tree tax? Are you joking? What kind of bizarro land are you guys running up there in MD.

More details on it if you care to read about it. Not kidding.

Our lot was just over the number where we'd need to plant 9 trees. It was physically impossible to fit them, so we just paid the tax. Even the previous house was on there, built in the 50's had fewer trees on it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well I mean I know why they prefer it, to make construction easier, but why do owners buyin tear-downs ask them to do this and why do people buying new houses buy them when the lots have been cleared? They look horrible. As many mature trees as possible should be left. I've been watching a new house buying built off old dominion right past balls hill road and the builders cut every single tree off the lot before they started building. Insane!

I hate to break it to the tree huggers, but simply put, trees are a risk. I live in a neighborhood with plenty of "mature trees" and I sure as hell wouldn't want to live in a house where branches are over the house. If you've been in this area for any period of time you've undoubtedly seen houses get smashed like twigs from a large tree or branches falling down. Let's see, you're going to spend $600k building a house and not remove a tree that's too close to your house? That's called dumb. I like big trees, I just think they have no place close to the house. Unfortunately these days lot sizes keep shrinking and houses get larger so there's a lack of space for big/nice trees. It is what it is..

This is what insurance is for

Do you follow the same with your health also? Why bother eating well or brushing your teeth! Insurance will cover it when you get sick or need a cavity filled!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's required because the root systems are too large and trees shouldn't hangover the house.

No - that is wrong!!! They do it because it is cheaper and easier for them! Please - if you are buying or looking to build in an established neighborhood, please tell the builders you want mature trees on your property! My neighbors have had to get in front of bulldozers to stop them! We've gotten the County involved too and have managed to save some trees, but we need owner / buyer demand to builders!

+1 lazy builders want to clear all the land so they can drive around on it easily and they also want to sell the the lumber. Also it's such BS to claim that a mature tree "will have to come down in 5-10 years." These trees are 150-250 years old. They aren't likely to die in the next few years.

+1

The builders prey on the uneducated. Come to think of it, some pushy neighbors prey on the uneducated, too. Anything to get their way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our developer didn't and I wish he had. We ended up having to pay to get trees removed that were way too close to the house.

They weren't "too close" to your house. Is that what the tree cutting man told you? To a hammer everything looks like a nail.

+1

Some people gladly throw money at anything. Educate yourself.

[Anonymous]

grading plan requires this

[Anonymous]

Sorry, I guess my family and friends are the unlucky bunch, we all had tree accidents.

My first house, a huge tree fell during a thunderstorm on July 4th in 2006, knocked out 1/3 of my roof and top floor. THANK GOD no kids were at that part of the house at the time. It was a disaster! Yes, we got insurance, but I sure hope I don't have to deal with that ever again.

My second house had no trees on the property, but the neighbors all did. On a windy night, a small branch from neighbor's house landed on our roof and punched a hole the size of an adult's fist.

My friend rented a house near George Mason, parked on the street. A big tree limb fell directly on top of her car, again thank god she wasn't in the car, but the car was completely totaled.

My most unlucky friend was working in his yard on a sunny day in a Mclean neighborhood and a tree limb fell on him. Paralyzed him for half of a year and it took him a long time to fully recover. He was lucky to be alive.

So, please don't judge me. I will not live anywhere near any big trees or next to any neighbors with big trees.

Thank goodness my builders removed all the big trees. He replaced them with evergreens and a beautiful gigantic Japanese maple tree. I'm fine wit those.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry, I guess my family and friends are the unlucky bunch, we all had tree accidents.

My first house, a huge tree fell during a thunderstorm on July 4th in 2006, knocked out 1/3 of my roof and top floor. THANK GOD no kids were at that part of the house at the time. It was a disaster! Yes, we got insurance, but I sure hope I don't have to deal with that ever again.

My second house had no trees on the property, but the neighbors all did. On a windy night, a small branch from neighbor's house landed on our roof and punched a hole the size of an adult's fist.

My friend rented a house near George Mason, parked on the street. A big tree limb fell directly on top of her car, again thank god she wasn't in the car, but the car was completely totaled.

My most unlucky friend was working in his yard on a sunny day in a Mclean neighborhood and a tree limb fell on him. Paralyzed him for half of a year and it took him a long time to fully recover. He was lucky to be alive.

So, please don't judge me. I will not live anywhere near any big trees or next to any neighbors with big trees.

Thank goodness my builders removed all the big trees. He replaced them with evergreens and a beautiful gigantic Japanese maple tree. I'm fine wit those.

Btw, here are some pictures. This is last year, the 2nd house I mentioned. The tree branch was 95%+ into the hole. Any further, it might've punched through my ceiling below the attic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry, I guess my family and friends are the unlucky bunch, we all had tree accidents.

My first house, a huge tree fell during a thunderstorm on July 4th in 2006, knocked out 1/3 of my roof and top floor. THANK GOD no kids were at that part of the house at the time. It was a disaster! Yes, we got insurance, but I sure hope I don't have to deal with that ever again.

My second house had no trees on the property, but the neighbors all did. On a windy night, a small branch from neighbor's house landed on our roof and punched a hole the size of an adult's fist.

My friend rented a house near George Mason, parked on the street. A big tree limb fell directly on top of her car, again thank god she wasn't in the car, but the car was completely totaled.

My most unlucky friend was working in his yard on a sunny day in a Mclean neighborhood and a tree limb fell on him. Paralyzed him for half of a year and it took him a long time to fully recover. He was lucky to be alive.

So, please don't judge me. I will not live anywhere near any big trees or next to any neighbors with big trees.

Thank goodness my builders removed all the big trees. He replaced them with evergreens and a beautiful gigantic Japanese maple tree. I'm fine wit those.

Btw, here are some pictures. This is last year, the 2nd house I mentioned. The tree branch was 95%+ into the hole. Any further, it might've punched through my ceiling below the attic.

Okay. Images didn't go through. Links here.

http://imgur.com/0CGq19K
http://imgur.com/hsjtHyt
http://imgur.com/ADMEgP9

[Anonymous]

Cutting down trees and hating trees is a very 'new money' thing to do. You can't buy class...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well I mean I know why they prefer it, to make construction easier, but why do owners buyin tear-downs ask them to do this and why do people buying new houses buy them when the lots have been cleared? They look horrible. As many mature trees as possible should be left. I've been watching a new house buying built off old dominion right past balls hill road and the builders cut every single tree off the lot before they started building. Insane!

I hate to break it to the tree huggers, but simply put, trees are a risk. I live in a neighborhood with plenty of "mature trees" and I sure as hell wouldn't want to live in a house where branches are over the house. If you've been in this area for any period of time you've undoubtedly seen houses get smashed like twigs from a large tree or branches falling down. Let's see, you're going to spend $600k building a house and not remove a tree that's too close to your house? That's called dumb. I like big trees, I just think they have no place close to the house. Unfortunately these days lot sizes keep shrinking and houses get larger so there's a lack of space for big/nice trees. It is what it is..

Someone is willing to spend 600k on the house that can possibly be smashed like a twig by a tree branch. By a tree, yes, by by the branch? Sounds like a " the three little pigs" type construction quality lol:

It takes decades to grow a mature tree, it's ridiculous how people cut them down without second thought. Leaning, unhealthy - sure, but healthy 70-100+ years beauties?? In my book it's a crime. I hope it's not the same people who complaint about air quality, noise, and, ultimately, climate changelol:

Currently I am pretty tense with my neighbor who bought her house two years ago, and did not notice two poplar tulips planted on my front lawn in 1948 (I am not joking). Lots are not that huge, you can't help by notice large trees on almost every lawn. Nor did she notice two oaks planted the same year on her next door neighbors' lawn. She wants them down, too, or I and the oak trees owner should be cleaning "our mess" off her lawn (leafs, branches, etc.). I installed cameras pointed at trees, because I question her sanity, and someone suggested to me to nominate my trees as a landmark trees, and I will do it in April. So will my neighbor.
Just a tip for people in the same situation.

Wtf? Tell her to "fuck off." Please use those exact words. She has no right to tell you to remove trees fro YOUR yard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry, I guess my family and friends are the unlucky bunch, we all had tree accidents.

My first house, a huge tree fell during a thunderstorm on July 4th in 2006, knocked out 1/3 of my roof and top floor. THANK GOD no kids were at that part of the house at the time. It was a disaster! Yes, we got insurance, but I sure hope I don't have to deal with that ever again.

My second house had no trees on the property, but the neighbors all did. On a windy night, a small branch from neighbor's house landed on our roof and punched a hole the size of an adult's fist.

My friend rented a house near George Mason, parked on the street. A big tree limb fell directly on top of her car, again thank god she wasn't in the car, but the car was completely totaled.

My most unlucky friend was working in his yard on a sunny day in a Mclean neighborhood and a tree limb fell on him. Paralyzed him for half of a year and it took him a long time to fully recover. He was lucky to be alive.

So, please don't judge me. I will not live anywhere near any big trees or next to any neighbors with big trees.

Thank goodness my builders removed all the big trees. He replaced them with evergreens and a beautiful gigantic Japanese maple tree. I'm fine wit those.

Btw, here are some pictures. This is last year, the 2nd house I mentioned. The tree branch was 95%+ into the hole. Any further, it might've punched through my ceiling below the attic.

Okay. Images didn't go through. Links here.

http://imgur.com/0CGq19K
http://imgur.com/hsjtHyt
http://imgur.com/ADMEgP9

Oooooh what an absolute TERROR! A little branch poked a little hole in your roof and could have hurt your BABIES!!! You're being rediculous. I've had branches 50 times that size land in my yard (I'm talking about 20 foot long branches) and I sleep peacefully under the trees in a hammock.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maryland sounds awful.

It is. I moved to VA, and I will never go back.

Maryland is awful, but VA has pretty strict tree polices for new construction too. At least they do in Arlington and Fairfax county. If you take down mature trees you have to replace something like 75% of the tree canopy in 10 years. We took down a huge tulip poplar (invasive species that is prone to breaking and falling over) and the county required us to plant 9 new trees in the back of the yard. They even told us what kinds they had to be. So now our yard is going to be like a mini forest in the back.

[Anonymous]

im a small developer in N. Va. Believe me, we try to save as many mature trees as possible because having mature trees on a lot commands a higher sales close price. We also get credit from the County to keep as many good trees on the property as possible...for every mature tree we remove, the County requires us to plant an equivalent number of trees to compensate to achieve a long term tree "canopy" area. So.....we have a financial advantage NOT to remove trees, contrary to what most may think. For many homes with septic systems, trees MUST be remove in the primary drainfield area and we cannot leave any tree up withing a good 20-35 feet of any component of the septic system. This is a County requirement to protect the homeowner from having sewage issues. It it certainly much easier to not have trees with construction/development but we are well aware there are advantages to doing our best to keep them as well. I will add that most mature trees, no matter how hard you try to protect them during construction, will die withing 4-5 years after the homeowner moves in. The stress, change in environment, water drainage patterns, sun angles, etc are often too much for a tree to survive. This is unfortuante for a homeowner who purchases a property with mature tree(s), later loses the tree(s), and then has to pay thousands of dollars to remove and re-landscape. I see it all the time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:im a small developer in N. Va. Believe me, we try to save as many mature trees as possible because having mature trees on a lot commands a higher sales close price. We also get credit from the County to keep as many good trees on the property as possible...for every mature tree we remove, the County requires us to plant an equivalent number of trees to compensate to achieve a long term tree "canopy" area. So.....we have a financial advantage NOT to remove trees, contrary to what most may think. For many homes with septic systems, trees MUST be remove in the primary drainfield area and we cannot leave any tree up withing a good 20-35 feet of any component of the septic system. This is a County requirement to protect the homeowner from having sewage issues. It it certainly much easier to not have trees with construction/development but we are well aware there are advantages to doing our best to keep them as well. I will add that most mature trees, no matter how hard you try to protect them during construction, will die withing 4-5 years after the homeowner moves in. The stress, change in environment, water drainage patterns, sun angles, etc are often too much for a tree to survive. This is unfortuante for a homeowner who purchases a property with mature tree(s), later loses the tree(s), and then has to pay thousands of dollars to remove and re-landscape. I see it all the time.

How closw are the trees to the house that you are talking about that die within 4-5 years? We have 20-30 mature trees that have been fine since the house was built in the early 80s, which are 20-40 feet from the house.