So the City denied me a permit to cut down a tree last year...

[Granny Gremlin]

I argued, amongst other things, that it was a danger due to how it tends to drop limbs if you look at it funny. I provided documentation of previous incidents.

Then I got a new car last week (used, but barely).

Then we had a crazy storm last night.

I'm just glad that it wasn't worse (hard to tell from these pics, but the trunk fell straight down, hit the ground next to the car and then snapped over the car resting mostly on the fence , another tree and a phone line; 3-5 inches over and I'd need a new rear door; it also completely missed all windows including the panoramic sunroof), that it fell on my property only (4 neighbors and a public alley are in range of various parts of the tree; 1 of 4 main trunks came down; 20-30 feet long), and that nobody was hurt (it's a busy alley). Insurance will cover it all; no big deal, just a pain in the arse. The city arborist is going to get a terse email from me though.

[Pilgrim]

I agree; that is evidence that you should have been able to take that tree down. Even if the city wanted you to plant a new one as a replacement, it should have happened.

I can't believe there's no major damage, but wow, you got lucky on that one!

[uwe]

STOP PRESS!!!


Young Polish immigrant suffers Ents attack on car in Downtown Toronto!!!



"I swear it wasn't even a diesel!!!"




Seriously, Jake, as long as you're safe - needn't to have happend though, true. And could have happened just the same in Germany, bureaucrats are the same worldwide.

[Granny Gremlin]

But I love Treebeard!  ... and trees generally 

[Highlander]

But where did you hide the Ent-wives...?

[uwe]

Thinking of it ... Don't you have someone with a planning & zoning background in your closer social proximity IIRC, Jake? That car was probably parked in an area reserved for trees only!

[Granny Gremlin]

More like the tree was in an area zoned for parking.  You can bet your bottom dollar she's all over this with regards to the city denying us the permit to chop it down in the first place. 

[Dave W]

That's scary.

I have two giant maples in front and a big walnut in back. I've lost some big branches but fortunately nothing has hit the house or car. Some of my neighbors haven't been as fortunate this summer. At least we don't have a city arborist.

[Psycho Bass Guy]

That looks like a walnut, and they're usually pretty hardy and not known to lose limbs. Has it been "pruned" during its life? If the city has been trimming it for most of its life, odds are that they created the weakness.

[Dave W]

If it's a tonewood tree, now we know the real reason Jake wanted to cut it down.

[Pilgrim]

If it's a tonewood tree, now we know the real reason Jake wanted to cut it down.

Right - he's on the phone to a custom sawyer as I write this.

[uwe]

More like the tree was in an area zoned for parking.  You can bet your bottom dollar she's all over this with regards to the city denying us the permit to chop it down in the first place.

Ah, you two are still an item then. Excellent. My congratulations to you and my condolences to her! 

I argued, amongst other things, that it was a danger due to how it tends to drop limbs if you look at it funny. I provided documentation of previous incidents.

As you tend to, Jake, as you tend to ... 

[Granny Gremlin]

The Hessian is merciless.

I got so mad when I got home from work yesterday because my neighbor's ISP came and ran a new line across my property THROUGH the fallen tree's branches.  Just WTF they were thinking I do not know.  Luckily the tree removal folks were able to get the debris out without cutting the line again (I called the ISP and told them I might have to, and they said fine bc it was a stupid thing to do). 

[gearHed289]

Damn, looks like you got relatively lucky. We took down a monster maple in the front yard a few years back. Sad, but it was getting scary, especially the giant limb hanging over my daughter's room.

[uwe]

The Hessian is merciless.