18 Replies to "UPDATE: Tree, wires down at 22nd/Barton"

• Sebastian December 28, 2024 (4:02 pm)

  Pedestrians should be careful as there are lines that come from very near the transformer that are on the ground where pedestrians would naturally walk around to avoid the downed tree. These are possibly power lines dangling into road surface although could be low voltage as well.  

  • WSB December 28, 2024 (4:14 pm)

    Thanks, I was just going to mention that in an update, that “live wires” were down too.

• Tracey December 28, 2024 (4:39 pm)

  We had a Madrone branch hit our house a few weeks ago.  Arborist came out and declared the tree an imminent hazard yet the city requires a permit to remove it.  When I asked who was responsible for damages in the interim, I got not response from the city.  We are no longer able to remove trees on our own property that pose hazards.  Until that changes, these storms will cause endless damage and insurance companies will continue to exit or chose not to cover tree damage much like floods.   We will all lose power more frequently and utility bills will go up to cover the cost of damages to infrastructure.  I might add that the cost of maintaining large urban trees is unaffordable for most home owners and that developers seem to have different rules

  • Flivver December 28, 2024 (6:16 pm)

    Tracey. Unfortunately, you’re correct. The “tree lobby” has brow beat cities into making trees “sacred and untouchable”. Friend lives in Bellevue. Neighbor of his had large branch from diseased tree come down, slightly injured her and did a little damage to her house. ONE YEAR later still waiting for city to authorize permit to cut down.  

    • Annoyed December 28, 2024 (6:38 pm)

      I’m all for tree canopy in urban areas, but people have rights too. Time to turn Seattle into a reasonable place to live and stop the nonsense. The tree regulations are slow and absurd. Some neighbors had to get a permit to cut a dead tree that has been dead since the home was built, but the builder couldn’t remove it. Feels like communism or something. 

  • Jethro Marx December 28, 2024 (6:43 pm)

    I’m curious, how did you end up owning a house with large urban trees if you can’t afford to maintain them? Wouldn’t the cost of removing them also be significant, assuming you were like, “I love the house but I’m going to chop all those trees down.”

    • LUT December 28, 2024 (8:10 pm)

      Great question Jethro,

      There ar multiple ways to end up owning a home with trees that you cannot afford to maintain. 

      1. You have owned the house since before the tree code changes that removed long held property owner rights regarding trees on their property.

      2. The small tree has become a large tree that requires high cost maintenance by licensed arborists with a ground crew and chipper.

      3. The cost of the tree service has become more expensive than in the past due to safety regulations and tree health practices (traditional tree climbing spikes are no longer used) with  rope climbing and expensive cherry picker lifts for trimming. 
      A single large tree can easily cost $2,000 per year.

      A permit to remove a tree in Seattle can be a couple hundred dollars.

      The cost to remove it may be less than a year of maintenance.

      • k December 28, 2024 (8:36 pm)

        You guys are really making this way harder on yourselves than you need to.  I have an exceptional tree with an 80′ canopy on my property.  It’s HUGE.  I spend ~$1500 every 4-5 years to have it trimmed, including the cost of the permit, which took my arborist a whole day to get.  I get that tree and the others on my property inspected annually for no cost from the same certified arborist that does the trimming when it’s time.  I honestly wonder how some of you manage any level of home maintenance if caring for your trees is putting you out this much.  Trees are the easiest and one of the most affordable parts of the property to maintain, even if you have large trees.  Have any of you gone through side sewer replacement?  Digging out your leaky oil tank?  WAY worse things await you as a homeowner than problem trees.

        • 1994 December 28, 2024 (10:44 pm)

          Word of mouth information sharing has it that in Normandy Park some home owners insurers are cancelling  the home insurance policies due to the many large trees that could potentially damage the homes. I have no idea if Normandy Park has similar tree regulations like Seattle where it is not easy to remove a tree from your property.

        • Tracey December 29, 2024 (7:49 am)

          Yes, 1994, roofer told us that he heard Progressive was pulling out of home insurance business in WA.  He also said that companies are raising deductibles on tree damage specifically.  He has seen policies with $8000 deductibles on roof damage.  All word of mouth.  Don’t quote me.  We were lucky sustaining only $6000 in damage plus tree removal with $1000 deductible.  But it was one “tiny” branch from a huge tree in neighbor’s lot.  Could have been much worse.

      • Jethro Marx December 28, 2024 (10:38 pm)

        LUT:

        1. This changes nothing regarding maintenance costs.  

        2. Yes, trees grow, but this was discovered long ago and is foreseeable.  

        3. This just a real stretch.

         Overall it seems like a lot of whinging about how terrible it is to have trees in your yard. They are a blessing, homeowners who are irrationally anxious about them falling should stop cutting them down.

    • Tracey December 28, 2024 (8:17 pm)

      It is the neighbours tree………………

      • k December 28, 2024 (8:29 pm)

        If it’s the neighbor’s tree, you can cut anything overhanging the property line.  If their tree falls and hits your house, they can be liable and their insurance would cover it in that case (or yours would, and then subrogate the claim).  Homeownership has costs.  Side sewers, furnaces, windows, lots of home systems require maintenance and eventual replacement, which will cost thousands of dollars and require a permit.  Tree maintenance is not special.  Taking care of your property is part of homeownership.  If you can’t afford the cost of pruning a tree, heaven help you when the furnace dies.

        • Tracey December 28, 2024 (9:18 pm)

          Not true.  Happened to me twice (2006 and 2024).  My insurance pays for neighbour’s trees.  Call your insurance and ask.  

        • K December 28, 2024 (10:24 pm)

          I did look into it, thoroughly, when a large crack was discovered in our big tree, putting the neighbor’s property at risk.  We were told we were liable if it fell, for damage on both sides of the fence.  Insurance policies can vary in terms; might be worth a chat with your broker.  Regardless, tree maintenance is part of the cost of homeownership.  You should assume any issues with your trees will be your responsibility and not the city’s.  We took measures to protect our neighbor’s property and maintain the health of the tree.  Because that’s part of our job as homeowners.

  • Derp December 28, 2024 (7:41 pm)

    We have had 2 trees removed that were hazardous. One was taken out by the contractor next door that was building 2 houses. I asked if he could do it and it was gone pretty quick.  They took out trees and paid fines instead of asking for permission. The second we had a company take it out,  and I had a second company that said permits.  The first company said it was dead and they weren’t going to worry about a permit. Depends on who you ask i guess 

  • norsegirl December 29, 2024 (10:14 am)

    I recently had to remove a  small copse of trees from my front yard.  The trees were dying from an aggressive disease.  Deemed by a certified arborist to be unhealthy, poor prognosis for recovery and hazardous. The trees were 8 feet into my front yard from the sidewalk edge.  However, it was discovered the trees were on city right-of-way, which mandated a city-issued permit prior to removing the trees.It took 2 months to receive a permit to begin the tree removal process.  And process it was, not simply remove the trees and that’s that.  Multiple contacts with city personnel, studying of information on several city websites and specific city codes ensued.Part of the permit process requires a 1:1 replacement of tree removed from city right-of-way.  Selection of replacement tree must come from a city-approved list.  Canopy of the new tree at maturity must meet or exceed that of the tree at the time it is removed.  Planting location must meet city requirements. Owner expected to facilitate new tree health.  City has option to audit tree health.  Permit not closed until all requirements met.  The trees were finally removed, permit requirements satisfied and permit closed.  Hazard eliminated. Selected new trees appealing although cosmetically very awkward and unappealing placement.   And much new learning regarding removing a tree on my property (er, overriding city right-of-way).

• Kelly December 28, 2024 (7:06 pm)

  Street closure should read that Barton is blocked between 22nd and Kelsey Lane. The downed power line was on 22nd, but the bulk of the tree is blocking Barton.

Sorry, comment time is over.