Residents of an Arizona town filed a temporary restraining order against a homeowners association after it refused to stop the removal of their beloved sissoo trees from their neighborhood.
The Silverleaf Arcadia area of North Scottsdale is known for its large, multi-million dollar homes that fill the entire community.
While the large properties dominate the neighborhood, it is also known for the 917 sissoo trees that line the sidewalks and decorate people’s properties.
Although they are loved by residents and some of them said they moved to the area specifically for the trees, the local homeowners association has been in a bitter battle with residents to have the trees removed.
The HOA, DC Ranch, has been trying to have the trees within the gated community removed for three years because they were damaging roads and underground pipes.
Now residents have filed an injunction against the group, preventing them from cutting down any more trees.
In total, there are 917 sissoo trees that line the sidewalks and decorate people’s properties in the neighborhood
DC Ranch had planted the trees in the neighborhood during its development in 2005, even though they were not native to the Sonoran Desert.
According to DC Ranch, the sissoo has an “invasive, destructive and thirsty root system” that can travel 50 feet or more to find water.
In information seen by , the HOA continued: “After 15 years, the streets and sidewalks in the neighborhood show signs of damage.”
“The trees will continue to pose a risk of property damage to homes, patios, pools and utilities.”
“The Ranch Association stopped watering the trees two years ago with no significant impact on growth.”
Last August, DC Ranch applied to the Scottsdale Development Review Board for permission to remove the trees.
This request was then rejected by the board, and the HOA had subsequently stated that it would appeal this decision to the city council, but did not do so.
The HOA then passed a resolution in September saying it would not cause hardship to those who choose to remove the trees in front of their homes.
Those opposed to the removal were fine with it until January of this year, when every homeowner received a notice from the HOA saying they owed $3,000 for the removal of sissoo trees in the neighborhood.
The Silverleaf Arcadia area of North Scottsdale is known for its large, multi-million dollar homes that fill the community
The HOA, DC Ranch, has been trying to have the trees within the gated community removed for three years because they were damaging roads and underground pipes
Resident Barry Chasse told 12news the trees were the main reason he moved to the neighborhood.
Homeowner Paul Petelin echoed that point, saying, “Everyone knew this was the tree area.”
Tom La Porte was upset by the HOA’s continued efforts to have them removed and decided to file a civil lawsuit against DC Ranch.
The lawsuit points out that the trees were part of the original development plan at the time of construction.
La Porte told the outlet that the whole saga has been “a nightmare for three years.”
Angered by the HOA’s continued efforts to have them removed, Tom La Porte (seen here) decided to file a civil lawsuit against DC Ranch
La Porte said the lawsuit was postponed when DC Ranch agreed to mediation with the homeowners to see if an agreement could be reached.
He said deforestation continued despite the postponement, adding: “The felling of the trees continued when we were supposed to be negotiating, so we decided to go to court and stop this.”
La Porte then filed for an injunction against the HOA so that it could not remove the trees without the homeowner’s consent.
His wife, Juli La Porte, said, “I haven’t taken out my trees.” I don’t know why I should pay for someone else?
“It’s just not right for me to have to pay for it.”
reached out to DC Ranch for comment on the ongoing dispute.