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Remove a heritage tree to accomodate a home remodel?

1,988 Views | 25 Replies | Last: 6 yr ago by rather be fishing
thirty-two
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Has anyone ever had to do this? I'm sure the city will give me hell... and likely won't even allow it. Tree is super close to home foundation... will this give me an out?

Anyone have experience here that can help me understand the process?
Potcake
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I don't know about removal but we had to pay ~ $1500 in materials to protect a heritage tree on neighboring lot from backhoe traffic when we had our pool built.
thirty-two
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Yeah, I have a feeling that the City of Austin will be a huge pain in the ass about it.
Martin Cash
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thirty-two said:

Yeah, I have a feeling that the City of Austin will be a huge pain in the ass about it everything.
Aggietaco
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Abbott is pushing to remove City control of trees on privately owned property as a part of the special session.
Potcake
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Aggietaco said:

Abbott is pushing to remove City control of trees on privately owned property as a part of the special session.

The dude that spent his entire AG career fighting Federal overreach but now wants to undo any local ordinance that he dislikes. Small government my ass.
Aggietaco
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Depends on whether you define small gov't as limited or local. I'm for restoring private property rights and not allowing local ordinances to infringe upon them.

But, as usual, there is more important chit to worry about than the socialists in Austin telling me I can't cut down a tree that I rent from them.
JAW3336
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I found this info, FYI

Heritage Trees larger than 24-inches, but smaller than 30-inches require an administrative variance from the director of the Planning and Development Review Department prior to removal. Reasons for removal may include: if the tree is in very poor health or poses a safety hazard. Trees larger than 30-inches require a land use commission public hearing before a variance can be granted.

I can't believe this is the America we live in.
thirty-two
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This is a big-ass tree. I'll take a picture and post it later. No signs of foundation issues but it's too close to my house for comfort.


(cough cough... and it's in the way of a potential house add-on)
txjortsagent
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Permission/forgiveness.......
SteveBott
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Probably need an arborist report stating it is a hazard.

I had a client who was refinancing and appraiser noted a large tree within 5 feet of the home. The lender wanted it cut down (in Houston) but after inspection the arborist stated he would not recommend that due to the roots were alive and supported the slab.

If they cut it down the roots would rot and he would lose their support causing more problems
who?mikejones
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Good luck. Go talk with the city arborist during their walk in hours or schedule a time to meet with them.

Potcake
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OP, if it's a hackberry, I'll help you cut that POS down.
Hhilton82
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Call Patti Dodson
512-974-9371 at City of Austin. She is an arborist and class of '82 classmate of mine.
Tell her Daryl B sent you.
Good gal but you may not like the answer she gives you.
Hhilton82
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http://www.austintexas.gov/trees
Btron
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Call Harvey Updyke
rather be fishing
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The mitigation costs for heritage trees is like $150k.
Aggietaco
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txjortsagent said:

Permission/forgiveness.......
The only problem is, in this case, forgiveness is pretty damn expensive.
thirty-two
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Thanks everyone for the responses. Lots of good info here, appreciate it.
trouble
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Because he destroyed a pecan tree on his property
BiochemAg97
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If the tree dies, it has to be removed, right? How much time do you have before the addition. Any way it could die before you need to take it out?
PabloSerna
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I have found the City to be reasonable when you include them in the decision process. They get real offensive if you take action that paints a picture where they feel like they have to look at everything due to illegal activity. Unless it is a true heritage tree (+30 in diameter) - you may offer to replace the total caliper inches in new trees located a safer distance from the foundation.

If it is more than 30" diameter - it will tough as that is a very valuable tree to the City.

Urban Forests are vital to a City's economic / housing stock - Austin is proof of this. Unlikely folks like Abbot will get this undone. Imagine your street with no trees - like the really old ones.
PabloSerna
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One more thing - most folks are turned in by their neighbors.
thirty-two
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Here is the tree in question. Beautiful tree, just wish it wasn't right next to my damn house. Definitely a heritage tree.


rather be fishing
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I'm not 100% sure on how they measure them, but that may not qualify as a heritage treel because of the split trunk. The measurement of the trunk is Diameter at Best Height (DBH) which is 4.5 feet.
Potcake
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This.
We had a giant hackberry that was two trunks, fused up to about 3.5 ft. Had it taken down. Plus, can a hackberry be a heritage tree?
rather be fishing
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Potcake said:

This.
We had a giant hackberry that was two trunks, fused up to about 3.5 ft. Had it taken down. Plus, can a hackberry be a heritage tree?


Don't think hackberry is on the list. They are not in short supply.
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