The decision to remove a tree from your property should not be a hasty one and is usually only done when absolutely necessary. Here at The Hideout, any and all tree’s being removed from your property must first be assessed and approved for removal by the Environmental Manager or his/her designee. Homeowners would also benefit from having a certified Arborist inspect the tree's in question to verify they are candidates for removal. Locally based ISA Certified Arborists can be found by visiting
https://www.treesaregood.org/findanarborist
To begin the tree removal process at The Hideout, it is highly recommended that you first have any concerning trees on your property thoroughly assessed by a certified arborist or tree care professional of your choosing. They have the knowledge, training, and skillsets necessary to provide details as to what is going on with your tree that may not be readily seen by the everyday person not familiar with these types of situations.
If it is their recommendation that a tree is dead/dying/diseased and/or presents a safety hazard, then you should submit a Tree Removal Permit Application specifying the total number of trees you wish to remove and the general locations. While on site, they should be able to recommend species of trees you can replant with if wanted or, deemed necessary.
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All trees recommended for removal must be flagged ribbon. This can be provided at no cost at the POA Office. This assists the Environmental Manager in identifying the tree’s during their site visit to your property.
The Tree Removal Permit Application is available at The Hideout POA Office OR you may submit it via The Hideout’s website,
www.hideoutassoc.com.
The POA Office is open 8am-4pm, Tuesday-Saturday with the exception of Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day.
A $25.00 flat fee will be imposed for all Tree Removal Permit Applications
Once a permit application is submitted, Environmental staff will review all items, conduct a site visit, and either approve or deny it. You will be contacted in a timely manner of approval or denial of the application and, if approved, when and where to pick it up.
Permits are valid for 6 months from the date of issuance and must be displayed on your address post throughout the duration of the project.
It is important to note the following:
- Tree’s 3 inches at DBH (Diameter at Breast Height) or less may be removed from your property as you see fit and you do NOT have to submit a Tree Removal Permit Application for those trees. Furthermore, you should not include trees 3 inches at DBH or less in the total number of trees to be removed from your property when submitting a Tree Removal Permit Application for trees in excess of 3 inches at DBH.
- Your desired trees to be removed MUST be flagged ribbon. Do not spray paint trees.
- The Environmental Manager will conduct a site visit to inspect the trees you wish to remove. Homeowners are reminded that the site visit may take several days for the Manager to get to as he/she may have other tasks to attend to. You should not expect a same day turn around for the permit application to be approved nor should you schedule with a tree removal expert to come on site until you have received confirmation that your Tree Removal Permit has been approved and is ready for pick up.
- The Environmental Manager reserves the right to deny or reduce the total number of trees requested for removal from your property.
- The Environmental Manager reserves the right to require the replanting of trees on your lot as he/she sees fit.
- If you wish to just trim the trees on your property, you do NOT need to submit a Tree Removal Permit Application.
- DO NOT START WORK UNTIL YOU HAVE A PERMIT ISSUED TO YOU AND IT IS PROPERLY DISPLAYED ON YOUR ADDRESS POST. If you start work without first obtaining the necessary permit, you will be subject to a $250 non-refundable fine and will be issued a STOP WORK ORDER.
- Once all trees have been removed and the job is complete, sign and date the permit and return to the POA Office.
- The Environmental Manager will conduct a post-cut inspection to verify that the total number of trees requested for removal were not exceeded. If it is found that more trees were removed than were approved for removal, the homeowner is subject to ECC citations.
Before considering any trees for removal around your residential dwelling, always consider the impact those trees will have on your budget and property value once removed. Natural trees and landscapes can comprise up to 20% of your properties real estate value and you could save hundreds of dollars a year on heating and cooling as the trees will help insulate your house during the winter months and help provide shade during the summer months.
Want to know how much preserving a particular tree species around your house can impact your budget over the course of a year? Check out this link:
http://www.treebenefits.com/calculator/
Environmental Control (ECC) Permits