This once beautiful oak is now a hacked up mess. I’m thinking it’s borderline dangerous to split a tree like this oak so severely.

An approximately 70-foot tall oak is touching this building that’s still a couple of months away from opening. The building’s foundation covers at least half of the trees root zone and the paved parking lot covers another quarter of the tree’s roots. Doomed. I suspect that within a year, these three trees will have been removed and three or more smaller trees and palms will stand in their place. A constant trade-off that shows no sign of slowing down anytime soon.

During the construction process, our county tree ordinance clearly prohibits this practice. The minimum tree protection zone is 20 feet from the trunk of the tree(s). Ideally, the zone should extend out to the furthest point of the tree’s canopy.

Right after the clear-cutting of the forest last May (2018). The tree that is now leaning against the building is just to the right of the first pile of sand nearest the blue tank.

A closer look at the “leaning tree”. Notice how close they cut through the roots to these trees. Most of the roots of the tree are exposed to the air and it will surely die or become diseased and therefore a hazard which will allow them to cut it down. A typical practice around here.

This Stop Work order was issued after the above clear-cutting was done and only after a citizen pointed out the violations of the tree ordinance to the appropriate county authority.