Help Me, What Would You Do?
 

Yesterday morning my neighbor rang my bell. I invited her into my home and she immediately said, "I hope this doesn't ruin our friendship". She proceeded to tell me the tree I planted in the back of my home was blocking her "view" of the water. I live two doors away from her and the tree in question is a Magnolia. Our homes are newly built and the tree in question was planted three months ago. I am in the process of having my entire home landscaped right now. I was extremely upset and because I didn't want to upset her I said I would try to relocate the tree. I spoke to my landscaper and he said because I have an interior lot the location I suggested could damage the screen to my pool area in the future as the tree grows. Although I want my neighbor to be happy I am not happy myself. I am upset she waited three months to tell me her concerns. The "view" she mentioned can only be seen from one chair in her lanai to the left side of her lanai. The tree is planted on my property and I did submit the paperwork to ARC and I was approved. Can someone give me guidance as to what they would do in my situation. Thank you for your help.

Honestly, I would leave the tree where it was planted. You got the approval and the landscaper was against moving the tree. If she can see water from one chair she did not pay for a view lot.

I would say that it's your property and you went through the correct channels to have the landscaping done. I don't know where you live here but water views mostly are of sloughs (my opinion). IF this makes her so angry that a friendship can't be forged, her character should be questioned. LIFE is too short to worry about what others are thinking.

Do nothing at all
 

Don’t cave in the problem will only get worse! Neighbors are just that” Neighbors. In the villages there are to many that complain about things that have no merit.

Tough call for you, but I have seen a lot of worse things done that block a person's view. There are some beautiful homes on Evans Prairie Golf course with great views. One homeowner extended his lanai and home so much that he blocked the entire view of two of his neighbors who paid a lot extra for that view. Still, it's his property and he or she can do what they want, if approved. Enjoy your magnolia.

Based on what has been presented you have done no wrong!

You are the victim of one's opinion.

You cannot please all the people all of the time.

You have made an effort to investigate relocation.

I would do no more.

My first thought is how attached are you the tree. Will it bother you as the tree grows large and wide that you are blocking someones view? I ask this only because you took the time to ask for our thoughts. Maybe a palm tree would fill your need and not block the view. If you do make any changes I would ask your neighbor to pay for it.

There is a magnolia on the golf course behind my house and it does block my view and I wish I could have it replaced with a Palm Tree. It gets very few flowers also drops quite a few leaves which are messy. Just my opinion but if you love your tree then keep it. It is your property!

Hit the neighbor with the estimate for the removal of the existing tree and the cost of the existing tree and the replacement cost of a tree that would fit your plan and help your neighbor regain her view. All you are doing is putting the ball back in her court. Let's see how important the view and friendship really are. This way you don't have to say no. She will come to her own conclusion quickly. The neighbor can say no to your compromise and you come away looking like the hero that you really are.

I give you a whole lot of credit for the way you handled the initial contact with the neighbor. Very restrained and thoughtful. I guessing that the tree hugger should be thanking her lucky stars for a neighbor who is trying to improve the look of her lovely new home. Enjoy the holidays and hopefully, your compromise will work out just beautifully. I would offer the presentation with a witness from the chair without a view and if you strike a deal have it put in writing with the money paid upfront of course. Good Luck.

It seems that the neighbor was just asking. To suggest that she is angry and complaining is a bit harsh.

Anyway. I agree that you should leave the tree where it is. You are a very nice person to consider moving it. When she next knocks on your door, simply explain all the details to her. She should have a thank-you-for-trying response to you. Then you can invite her in for a cup of copy. If she takes a selfish attitude, then you can stop caring.

That’s what I was thinking, if there is an option that pleases both her AND YOU.

I think you handled the situation very well and have no responsibility to remove the tree. However, let me give you a little advise based on my experience with magnolia trees. Do yourself a favor and use this episode as an excuse to get rid of the magnolia tree. In a few years you will wish you never planted the dam tree. We regretted having a magnolia on our property. These trees grow very big (not just tall but very wide) and create a mess. They constantly drop these rather large and spinny cones everywhere and their leaves make a mess, including clogging your gutters. You will be constantly cleaning up the trees debris. It also becomes very difficult to grow decent grass anywhere near the tree canopy and your lawnmower will learn to hate the trees cones. And if you wait until the tree grows big to take it down you will have to jump through loops with the ARC and pay someone big $$ to remove and replace it. Plus, the now extensive and shallow tree root system will then rot underground and create a fungus that will kill all your grass. Three years after removing our magnolia we are finally getting something that resembles a lawn, but we constantly need to add fill as the lawn depresses where the roots have rotted out.

So my advise would be to get rid of the magnolia for you, not your neighbor. But you will get a double win since your neighbor will think you did it for her : ).

This!!! The best move we ever made landscaping-wise was removing the dirty magnolia on our lawn. Magnolias are beautiful on the back forty of a sixty acre spread only. But I applaud your attempt at diplomacy with your neighbor.

I would say yes we have a strong relationship .Don't take offence I' did my due diligence and research I have broken no rules or any deed restrictions.. The second tree is coming next week

Got to agree regarding the Magnolia. Not a tree for a less than large area.
One burst of color for the year, then clear up falling leaves for rest of year.
Purchased a property once that had one. It went PDQ.

I haven't looked at the other replies, so if this has already been said, I apologize. If you can live without the tree and it isn't that important to you, you might consider offering to have it removed at her expense. That expense should also cover what you paid to have it planted too

I lived in Georgia for a few years. The magnolia trees were beautiful - in my neighbors' yards. I was glad I didn't have one in mine.

Tell her you spoke to the landscaper and this is the best location as moving it could lead to damage to your home as the tree grows. My guess is as the tree grows where ever it is located she could lose her view. So be polite and don't worry about leaving the tree.

Is the tree not blocking your view? I would limit as many trees as possible to keep your own view and limit damage to sprinkler system from roots growing

Let's start with the magnolia tree. Have you ever had one ? They branch out quite a bit (and will block a substantial part of a view) plus have far reaching root system which depending on location can cause sidewalk, driveway, and foundation problems. Their leaves are very broad and fall off leaving you with clean up of lawn and worse yet gutters. They blossom only a few days out of the whole year. Are you sure this is the tree for you. A palm tree will be trimmed such that the truck is the only part of obstruction to view except near the top. If this type of tree fits in with your landscape scheme I think it may be a better choice for both you and the neighbor. I wholeheartedly support the idea of if change is made the neighbor be given the proposal of paying for removal and replacement. Seeme like a good compromise that should not yield any hard feelings. On the other hand I do support the notion you have followed all the rules and have no obligation to the neighbor for your own property and pleasure.

I lived next door to someone with a magnolia tree that the builder planted. Did I resent my neighbors? No, but I did curse everyday that I had to go outside and clean up the yard from the magnolia shedding its leaves and flowers. After a few years the neighbor could not take it anymore either and removed the tree.

This may be a blessing in disguise! I had my magnolia tree removed soon after I bought my house, and my neighbor split the cost with her neighbor to have their magnolia tree removed. Both trees were probably 20 years old. I would think more magnolia trees are removed than planted by those who have had one.

I hope it all works out for you so that you have many many happy years in your home, magnolia or not!

A peek-a-boo view is never guaranteed.

After reading all the posts so far, what would I do? I would ask my neighbor to pay to have the tree removed, and let her think that I was doing her a favor. A win-win solution.

If the ARC approved I'd drop her complaint like a bad habit and move on.

The OP never said the neighbor complained. You sound like a good neighbor. :ohdear:

Although I agree you have no responsibility to remove the tree in question, I understand why the majority of posts might say keep the tree because you are totally within your right to do so. OP, you specifically ask what I would do if I encountered your situation. Of course, that is a hypothetical question, but here is how I believe I would react in a similar situation. I put a lot of value on relationship with my neighbor and from your written words I believe you do also. I would have the landscaper remove the Magnolia tree at my expense (they are messy anyway) and then get on with enjoying the lifestyle of The Villages. Your neighbor believes that tree is going to ruin what little future view she has and maybe I should get to know her better. In that context, Lincoln perhaps said it best. “I don’t like that man, I must get to know him better”. (Quote attributed to Abraham Lincoln in 1858 after losing to Stephen Douglas)

ARC gives approval for extensions of home that will block the view of other home owners? What is the point of having an ARC? Those home owners who have lost their view paid a lot premium. That was money wasted.

Doesn’t read like a premium lot....

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OP did you get a chance to converse with the Tree Lady?

You got it approved as you should have. If the neighbor has a problem that’s their problem which they can take it up with ARC that gave you the approval period.

Leave the tree where it is. She would hate me because I would be putting in a pool with a birdcage! She should be happy it's just a tree! Her view is ruined only from one chair in her lanai? Tell her to move the chair. Complainers will always find something to complain about.

In the end, the view she paid for is dirertly out the back of her lanai. that does include a view up either side of the lanai.

You are definately in the right...

My 1st thought is why would anybody in a Villa want a Magnolia tree? The landscaper put one in our yard when the house was built. The 1st thing we did was dig it up. They are nice shade trees but they grow way to big for a Villa lot and they shed leaves and cone terribly. Who wants all that maintenance?

Some people need a little more time than others to learn to live in close quarters like we do here in TV.
Get at least two estimates for removal. Hopefully she sees the tree service trucks and thinks she has won.
Add up the cost of installation, cost of removal, cost to install new landscaping and the price of your aggravation since she came over. Present your cost fact sheet to your neighbor with a smile on your face. Agree to have tree removed if she pays the costs upfront, cash preferred Have a witness present when/if she signs off on the costs.
This is definitely meeting her half way. This may cure the neighbor of attempting to influence (bully) her neighbors. Lets see how important her view is.

How old is she? Leave it there maybe you can outlive her.

We don't have a Magnolia tree on our property but from what I have read on this thread, I would not want one. If I were the OP, I would have that tree removed.

That is a brilliant thought, hopefully keeps everyone happy

We have a magnolia tree that was trimmed removing the lower branches. The view from my lanai was greatly improved. Perhaps that’s a compromise that would satisfy your neighbor and you keep the tree.

I agree with tophcfa. I had a magnolia and got rid of it. The roots are FIERCE so I hope yours is no where near any concrete, the house, etc., because that will be cracked when the roots grow over there. But if you want that thing it is your decision, not your neighbor's.

As someone owning a home in a neighborhood that has a MAGNOLIA tree in front of every house - I would say you are making a huge mistake planting this tree anywhere on your property. They are one of the most high maintenance trees with constantly shedding their leaves that look a lot like piles of dog duty. Take it out as soon as possible. If you don't want her to be happy - give her the tree.