An old tree can be a wonderful element on a property or in a neighborhood. But they can also be dangerous if they develop a hazardous condition. Under the current ordinance the city can force hundreds or thousands of dollars in extra costs on the homeowner who is trying to deal with a dangerous situation. You don't know how bad it can be until you are in the middle of it. And if you don't pay with money, you will pay with hours and hours dealing with the city in an attempt to get them to be reasonable.
Now the city is adding weight to it's heavy hand in trying to populate the city with trees. It is now bringing what it calls "street trees" under it's jurisdiction and controlling activities related to them. Read about street trees to learn more.
Part of the cities street tree plan is to tag trees. Read about tree tagging in Cupertino to learn more.
The following is a collection of stories that illuminate the hazards big trees can pose and illustrate the potential costs driven by city ordinances.
Tree Unexpectedly Falls in San Jose, Killing a 2 Year Old
In January 2010, a 2 year old was killed when the tree outside his family's house fell on the truck he was sitting in with his parents. See a Mercury News slide show about this tragedy here .
This prompted discussion about the safety of old trees and who was responsible for street tree upkeep in San Jose. The story brought out the impediments to swift action in mitigating hazards once they are apparent. You can read a San Jose Mercury News article about the urban forest in San Jose and think about how the city's tree protection ordinance might impact you ability to manage a tree hazard if it was a protected tree in your front yard.