Better neighbors needed, not more laws

Peter Weisbrod

Oh, those trees. You hate them or you love them. Is there an in

between?

At the July 1 City Council meeting, the subject of trees

resurfaced, especially offending trees that are obscuring someone’s

view.

One council member, in familiar fashion, asked for more studies,

probably hoping that the issue will eventually go away. After all,

it’s been more than a decade of debates. No, it won’t go away. It

will get worse. Trees and other plants continue to grow, pitting

neighbor against neighbor. Therefore, we need a view ordinance now.

We have the information. We even have model ordinances of other

towns.

Another council member got the scare, thinking that some pro-view

advocates propose to remove all trees in town. I don’t think that is

the impression we got listening to the testimony.

And then there are the afflicted. The ones whose views have been

blocked by overgrown vegetation. One complainant, among many others,

blamed landscape architects who served on the Landscape and Scenic

Highways Element Committee, for their misery. What a laugh. Landscape

architects have nothing to gain by this document. They don’t plant

trees, they design gardens and specify trees among other things.

Now those of you who are letting your trees, hedges and other

foliage grow into your neighbor’s view, I ask, why? Isn’t it much

nicer to be in tune with your neighbors and have their good will

instead of feuding with them? The Golden Rule certainly applies here.

So, please, top, trim, lace your trees and do it on a regular basis.

Let’s face it, most people would rather look at the ocean and

coastline than a tree that is blocking that very view. Your current

attitude invites hostility and the need for an ordinance. I wish we

could do without either.

* PETER WEISBROD is a Laguna Beach resident.