The Business of Permits

I love designing other peoples yards, and when there is enough gas left in the tank, I love working on my own yard too. My latest “vision” has been a greenhouse. Somewhere I can make a mess, store all my stuff, re-pot, over winter plants, and maybe film a few videos. The only problem is….a tree needs to come down before this can happen. And before the tree comes down, a permit needs to be issued. We’re not taking down just any tree, we are taking down a very, very dead western shore pine. It’s massive, and dead as anything.

We first noticed it’s lack of life after this past winter. It went brown…and stayed brown. A city aborist had come by to limb a different tree and I picked his brain about it. He confirmed, “that thing is not coming back”. Yes, it’s sad, but also…let’s get this dead tree out of our yard before it does any harm.

We (my husband) applied for a permit for tree removal in late spring, but were informed it was bird season. Not safe to take the tree down until bird season is over…in the fall. Ok, fine, there were a lot of birds in that tree. We reapplied for the permit in the fall, was told it was a 4 week wait. Checked in on the permit, was told it was actually more like a 6 week wait. Did I mention the tree is dead? And on our property? And storm season is coming? And I want to build my dream greenhouse in its space?

We finally heard back, and have been given permission to pay a fee before we get the actual permit. And so it goes, the saga continues. I love that the city is trying to protect our trees and ecosystems, but how come a developer can clear cut a lot for a mega mansion, and I have to wait half a year to remove a very unsafe tree on my own property? Food for thought.