ws: It’s not a black and white issue (tree removal), but I was simply bringing up the fact that one needs to recognize they just might have neighbors (ehem and HOA which they should be following) and removing trees / excessive pruning can certainly have impacts beyond your yard – especially for one’s sight lines outside. In my family’s case it means more money we have to spend for cooling.

I also happen to be on a hill, so I cannot easily replant trees/shrubs to meet that height in which my home looks down into theirs – not to mention there is not enough property available to do so. And there are very acceptable setbacks for my neighborhood.

Viewshed is a word:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viewshed

There’s limitations to being able to do what you want with your property. I agree with your sentiments, even though it may not seem like it.

But, should someone be able to park their clunker on their lawn and reduce surrounding home values? I certainly don’t think so! Should somebody be able to use their home as a business even if it means parking issues around the home? I think that’s okay.

I dunno, these issues are not simple.

THWM: WS, it’s touchy subject.

Look at Michael Vick with dog-fights taking place in his back yard.

Some people view dogs as pets, others view dogs as food.

Should statutory rape, even really be counted as rape?

mmmarvel: To each their own – enjoy.

THWM: Indeed, within a certain amount of give & take. So be reasonable.

THWM: Well it’s a two way street.

mmmarvel: Probably because they haven’t had to live and deal with Portland traffic.

ws:… At any rate tree removal effects your neighbors. What if an existing tree shaded a house and the removal of that tree in turn increased cooling costs for that neighboring house? Is that fair or neighborly? …

mmmarvel: Actually, I don’t CARE. It’s my property, I should be able to do certain things – like deal with trees as I see fit. Your comment included the word “viewshed” is that a real word? If you want trees for shade, view or whatever, plant them yourself on your own land. Folks like you LIKE all these government regulations until they slap you in the face for something that you want to do. Check what happened to George Lopez after he had supported all the liberal and ‘green’ causes and now he gets slapped in the face (look it up on Google).

ws:No, I cannot say I have the same experiences as you. I’m also curious where you lived in the Portland area?

mmmarvel: I lived in Portland for MANY years. I lived in the SW hills area. I lived in the Aloha/Hillsboro area. I lived in several of the SE areas (Laurelhurst, Lents, Hawthorne). I completely agree, there are folks who would be very comfortable moving from Houston and living in Portland. There are several folks who would find living in Houston much more to their liking than Portland (like I do). I find the government in Portland (and Oregon in general) to be far too intrusive to my life. I don’t need government to be my daddy (or in the case of Oregon – my nanny). To each their own – enjoy, I was just giving you MY perspective; your mileage may vary.

ws:I’m just curious if traffic isn’t bad in Houston, why does the city consistently rank as one of the worst in the nation?

mmmarvel:“You forgot that in Portland, you have to ask permission and get a permit to cut a tree on your own property; not so in Houston.”

ws:I’m actually glad for that, because Portland actually has real trees compared to the saplings so many cities have. At any rate tree removal effects your neighbors. What if an existing tree shaded a house and the removal of that tree in turn increased cooling costs for that neighboring house? Is that fair or neighborly? What if tree removal also had an effect on your neighbors view into their house – whereas before the tree protected and screened unwanted views?

Apparently it’s too much to ask neighbors if that is okay – every single one of my neighbors has illegally removed or pruned trees (pruned trees incorrectly that might damage huge Doug Fir and Cedar trees, I might add) that had created a negative effect on my family’s viewshed and energy bill. And yes, there is a stringent HOA regarding trees – especially for native trees.

I don’t like the NIMBY attitude at all, but all of these behaviors decrease value for my family’s home and decrease livability for the home and the homeowners have HOA items that they are willingly violating.

mmmarvel:“Granted my experiences are personal to me, but I can say that I’ve lived in both places and can see the discussion from that angle. Can you say the same?”

ws:No, I cannot say I have the same experiences as you. I’m also curious where you lived in the Portland area? You might find people in a completely different position as you: having moved from Houston to Portland and actually liking Portland better. It’s all relative. I also think where you live/move in Houston or Portland definitely will sway anyone’s opinion.

WS – Let’s see, Houston is the 4th largest city, Portland comes in at number 30. Portland has a wanna be soccer team and a professional basketball team. Houston has a professional football, baseball, basketball and soccer team. And all that proves what? Back to costs, gee I can spend $100K more for a house in Portland and get less – wow, lead me to it. You should see what you can buy for $250K down here. However, you forget to mention that when you buy that house in Portland, your property taxes are going to be higher than mine (for the same price of the house in each location). You forgot that in Portland, you have to ask permission and get a permit to cut a tree on your own property; not so in Houston. Portland has a slightly higher income, but it also has a MUCH higher cost of living. Our ‘traffic congestion’ down here is what Tualatin Valley Highway is at 10AM up there; it’s no comparison (I laugh when people complain about it down here and just think to myself – you really need to live in the Portland area for a couple weeks, you won’t be complaining).

Granted my experiences are personal to me, but I can say that I’ve lived in both places and can see the discussion from that angle. Can you say the same?

1) You can find a nice Portland bungalow for 250k. Not as big as the houses in Texas, no, but what homes are in the US. A slight jab on Houston, but it is the fattest city in the US so a bigger home may be warranted there.

2) Portland has a slightly higher median income than Houston, housing naturally costs more in more expensive areas

3) You have a point that housing costs are an issue in Portland and in any city, but you’re forgetting transportation costs. This study shows what percentage of people’s income goes towards housing and transportation and it’s not getting smaller:

http://www.nhc.org/pdf/pub_heavy_load_10_06.pdf

While housing costs have increased greatly recently in many cities, transportation costs are much more volatile and runaway than housing costs IMO.

THWM: Volkswagen even uses trams to transport auto parts in Germany!

Now I live in Houston and couldn’t be happier. I can afford a 2000 square foot house for well under $150K (and if I play my cards right it will have a pool in the back yard). We have townhouses down here, but they don’t really sell too well, people like to have a yard. We have our own little light rail down here. Just like Portland, no one uses it (just like Portland, outside the rush hours). Our little light rail is (thank God) much shorter and took much less transportation money than what was wasted in Portland.

As for ‘Mike’ – if light rail (and Lord knows WES) could sustain itself via the fare box, then I wouldn’t care. Money on roads support transportation of people, services and goods. Money on light rail (and projects like WES) ONLY support transportation of people – which is why mass transit projects can’t support themselves.