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Board to seek facts after five large trees cut on Hunting Hills condominium land
Summary
Board members reported five large trees were removed on Deep Creek within Hunting Hills condominium association land; they agreed to confirm whether the trees are 'street trees,' contact HOA leadership and then consider recommending penalties allowed under the city ordinance ($75–$750 per tree).
At the Prospect forestration board meeting, members raised alarm after photos showed several large stumps where mature trees had been removed on Deep Creek within land the board identified as belonging to the Hunting Hills condominium association.
Participants said they counted five large stumps and that no city official recalled authorizing the removal. The board discussed whether the trees qualify as 'street trees' under the ordinance (the ordinance defines a street tree as one located within the public street right-of-way) and agreed the first step is to confirm property plats and right-of-way boundaries.
Board members said the ordinance allows the city to assess penalties if removals violate local rules; the range discussed during the meeting was $75 to $750 per tree. Several participants urged a conciliatory first step: contact HOA management to get background and any plans, then, if warranted, recommend formal action to the city rather than impose penalties directly (the board stated penalties are imposed by the city, while the board would make a recommendation).
Members also noted prior coordination on a problem tree removal several years earlier and said they would pull plats and ask Ron or other city staff to inspect the site before further steps. The group identified Belinda Smith as a possible HOA contact and agreed to gather facts, confirm whether the trees are within the public right-of-way, and then determine an appropriate remedial or enforcement recommendation.
Next steps the board set during the meeting included obtaining the plat/right-of-way information, contacting the HOA for context and replanting/cleanup expectations, and preparing a recommendation to the city if violations are substantiated.
