[Yosemite]

I have great difficulty turning out of my street because the neighbor on the corner has intentionally planted a large tree on the corner "to force people to stop." Well, that tree blocks the sight line for the oncoming traffic and making that turn is now very difficult and dangerous. And, that is the ONLY way out of the neighborhood; I live on a cul-de-sac off of a dead end street. Is this an issue I can bring to the deed compliance people, as a landscaping violation, or do I seek help from the sheriff as a traffic problem? I know talking to the neighbor is the first line of defense, and I have tried that to no avail.

[asianthree]

We live on a corner that backs up to Odell circle. We have restrictions on what we can build hard scape and what we can plant as soft scape. A phone call or two might help you with the answer one way or the other if indeed the tree cannot be planted there. I am confused though when you say the tree makes you stop, is there a stop sign and is the tree covering it.

[fred53]

The first thing you do is call the deed compliance office....not post on here and ask if that's what you should do. Posting online for this sort of thing is a way to get backing for this sort of thing, but does nothing to solve the issue(if there is one).

Perhaps you might post a photo of this tree from where you say it's an issue. Then you might get a more informed response.

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by Yosemite

I have great difficulty turning out of my street because the neighbor on the corner has intentionally planted a large tree on the corner "to force people to stop." Well, that tree blocks the sight line for the oncoming traffic and making that turn is now very difficult and dangerous. And, that is the ONLY way out of the neighborhood; I live on a cul-de-sac off of a dead end street. Is this an issue I can bring to the deed compliance people, as a landscaping violation, or do I seek help from the sheriff as a traffic problem? I know talking to the neighbor is the first line of defense, and I have tried that to no avail.

My question is: How do you know he intentionally planted the tree to "force people to stop"? Did he specifically tell you that? IF so, I have absolutely zero, nadda, zilch tolerance for that type of behavior. It's no different than the bozos who plant themselves in the left lane of 466 at 30 mph because they think that is fast enough. We are a nation of laws. We elect representatives to a legislature that writes the laws, then the police enforce those laws. It is NOT up to any individual citizen to revise or rewrite the law based on his own opinion, and certainly not his right to cram his opinion down everyone's throat by taking actions that essentially amount to a mass enforcement. Just as those left lane clowns create a safety hazard as everyone else makes half a$$ed moves to get around them, this tree is a safety hazard if it blocks the view of oncoming traffic, or cyclists, or pedestrians. I wonder how this homeowner would feel if a cyclist was killed because of the poor visibility he created. Would he feel any responsibility at all? Or would he have such a "holier than thou" attitude that he would place 100% blame on the other parties?

Most municipalities have some sort of ordinance that prevents homeowners from obstructing the view of traffic. I would contact either deed compliance or the county sheriff's office---If you pick the wrong one, they will refer you to the other
If drivers are not stopping for the stop sign, he should have called the sheriff. Maybe they would monitor that intersection, but most likely they would write him off as a crackpot bellyacher with nothing better to do.
As far as drivers rolling through stop signs goes---you save about 1 second---but a single 15 minute stop by LEO will negate about 900 stop sign roll throughs, so is it worth it????

[Taltarzac725]

Just curious. What kind of tree is it? There are bushes in the Villages which often obstruct views of traffic--like those on the west end of the tunnel under CR101 near Southern Trace and CVS-- but they trim these often. There are periods though when it is hard to see the golf carts coming from the south.

Could the tree be trimmed easily?

[NotGolfer]

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

My question is: How do you know he intentionally planted the tree to "force people to stop"? Did he specifically tell you that? IF so, I have absolutely zero, nadda, zilch tolerance for that type of behavior. It's no different than the bozos who plant themselves in the left lane of 466 at 30 mph because they think that is fast enough. We are a nation of laws. We elect representatives to a legislature that writes the laws, then the police enforce those laws. It is NOT up to any individual citizen to revise or rewrite the law based on his own opinion, and certainly not his right to cram his opinion down everyone's throat by taking actions that essentially amount to a mass enforcement. Just as those left lane clowns create a safety hazard as everyone else makes half a$$ed moves to get around them, this tree is a safety hazard if it blocks the view of oncoming traffic, or cyclists, or pedestrians. I wonder how this homeowner would feel if a cyclist was killed because of the poor visibility he created. Would he feel any responsibility at all? Or would he have such a "holier than thou" attitude that he would place 100% blame on the other parties?

Most municipalities have some sort of ordinance that prevents homeowners from obstructing the view of traffic. I would contact either deed compliance or the county sheriff's office---If you pick the wrong one, they will refer you to the other
If drivers are not stopping for the stop sign, he should have called the sheriff. Maybe they would monitor that intersection, but most likely they would write him off as a crackpot bellyacher with nothing better to do.
As far as drivers rolling through stop signs goes---you save about 1 second---but a single 15 minute stop by LEO with negate about 900 stop sign roll throughs, so is it worth it????

Great response!!! We ALL see folks who roll through stop signs and almost never yield as well. It has been our observation, many times, that someone who was in such a hurry to begin with gets bogged down by traffic (and we catch up to them). I'd say many have years of bad habits that they've brouight with them here.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by fred53

The first thing you do is call the deed compliance office....not post on here and ask if that's what you should do. Posting online for this sort of thing is a way to get backing for this sort of thing, but does nothing to solve the issue(if there is one).

Perhaps you might post a photo of this tree from where you say it's an issue. Then you might get a more informed response.

Excellent response. I also like to read back on several of the posts by same poster to kind of understand them.

To say the tree was planted on purpose to get people to stop brings a lot of things to mind.

I am skeptical when I am confused.

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by fred53

The first thing you do is call the deed compliance office....not post on here and ask if that's what you should do. Posting online for this sort of thing is a way to get backing for this sort of thing, but does nothing to solve the issue(if there is one).

Perhaps you might post a photo of this tree from where you say it's an issue. Then you might get a more informed response.

I agree.
But, don't see how a photo would change anything.

[Henryk]

Originally Posted by Yosemite

I have great difficulty turning out of my street because the neighbor on the corner has intentionally planted a large tree on the corner "to force people to stop." Well, that tree blocks the sight line for the oncoming traffic and making that turn is now very difficult and dangerous. And, that is the ONLY way out of the neighborhood; I live on a cul-de-sac off of a dead end street. Is this an issue I can bring to the deed compliance people, as a landscaping violation, or do I seek help from the sheriff as a traffic problem? I know talking to the neighbor is the first line of defense, and I have tried that to no avail.

Ahhh, the old "spite tree," eh? If it's a safety issue, I'd call police and/or fire.

[autumnspring]

Originally Posted by Yosemite

I have great difficulty turning out of my street because the neighbor on the corner has intentionally planted a large tree on the corner "to force people to stop." Well, that tree blocks the sight line for the oncoming traffic and making that turn is now very difficult and dangerous. And, that is the ONLY way out of the neighborhood; I live on a cul-de-sac off of a dead end street. Is this an issue I can bring to the deed compliance people, as a landscaping violation, or do I seek help from the sheriff as a traffic problem? I know talking to the neighbor is the first line of defense, and I have tried that to no avail.

You've spoken to the neighbor. First of all, that is what I would do. You will find all kinds of posts telling you that you should AUTONOMOUSLY REPORT THEM. In my view that is a cowardly act.

I'm not looking at the situation so I am not taking sides.

You know from life. Very few people will admit they are wrong. That could be YOU just as it could be the people who own the tree. As I read your post, the tree forces you to stop. I as I said have not SEEN the situation but,
I would expect THERE IS A STOP SIGN as you exit the cul de sac.

We had an issue with the LANDSCAPER hired by our neighbor which included cement walls etc. I, as you did net with my neighbor to show him the issue and WE AGREED he would have the people he hired move it.
His guy swore at me, told me what an expert he was etc.
As I told my neighbor as I told the EXPERT. I would be checking. Of course more swearing from his EXPERT.

I called the architectural people and they were very professional. The EXPERT was totally wrong. He had not filed a plan. What he did needed to be moved. Fortunately, my neighbor and I continued to be friends.

I HOPE IT WORKS OUT WELL FOR YOU.

[John_W]

In Tamarind Grove there are 80 villas in Southern Star Villas where I live and 88 designer homes on Odessa Circle that circles around the outside of our villas. We have a social director/organizer person who sends out emails when something is going on, missing pet, yard sales, etc.

One night she send an email that those in Sothern Star Villas were blowing through the stop sign when exiting our villas and almost hit cars on Odessa Circle. The last villa in our group has a tree that has grown up and covers over the stop sign. I sent her an email explaining this problem. Most of us residents know of the stop sign from 6 years of stopping there. However, visitors, delivery people, etc may not and I agree it is a dangerous situation. She took it upon herself and visited that homeowner and asked if he would cut back the tree, which he did. All it took was a resident to get the job done. I could of done it myself, but I felt a visit from her carried more weight.

[Topspinmo]

Bushes, plants, and trees blocking exits all over the villages. In my villa they planted bushes 15 yards form the entry looking left. The bushes were probably fine for 10 years. But, now they are over grown. You can't see traffic coming unless you pull out to the diamond lane looking left. Plus traffic cruses 30 plus down the street. By the time you look left then right and back left vehicle can pop out from the bushes.

IMO they need removed along with others all over the older parts of the villages. Don't say call somebody, I already did my district and they done normal trimming, not enough to make difference. And yes I followed up that fell on deaf ears. But, I did save my email in case somebody gets plowed over in golf cart turning left for "in case of" action.

Bottom line, it is what it is! (Always wanted to say that when nothing can be done) adjust and live with it.

[jsw14]

I have a Chain Saw if anyone need's it..........HeeeeHee!!

[Yosemite]

Thank you all for your replies.
I will contact deed compliance and take it from there.