At the beginning of the year we received a notice from the county about rezoning some property near us. One of the properties is at the end of our dead end street and the other was at the back of our property. To make a long story short we found out that the owner of these properties was planning to build apartments. Sigh. We (all the neighbors) were able to fight and block the rezoning of the property on our street. The property behind up was several acres of vacant property. All the county could see is the dollar signs of having this property developed.
This is our backyard before development began. Beautiful, lush, secluded.
My oasis. I felt like I was in the country instead of in the busy suburbs.
Once they started clearing the land we knew that what was said to us and the county about keeping the mature trees was not to be. I have watched tree after tree be removed all week.
One of the workers stopped to talk with us. He said that they have orders to remove all trees on their property. It surprised him that he had an order to remove trees so close to our property line. It didn't surprise him when we said we were told the mature trees would stay. Apparently he hears that often.
At first it made me sick to watch all of this taking place. Hundred year old trees gone in a matter of minutes in the name of progress. I am trying to embrace the change. It isn't easy. I will take it as it comes and when the dust settles we will decide what we want to do.
We are more fortunate then others as there are a few mature trees on our property behind the fence. Many of our neighbors now have nothing at the back of their property. We are little more bare as of today as they keep coming and removing any remaining brush on their side.
In the mean time the kids are loving it. It is like having Bob the Builder in the backyard.
May your day be filled with joy and contentment!