HOMEOWNERS have filed a restraining order against their HOA according to the residents.
A HOA in Scottsdale, Arizona was removing trees from residents' properties without asking.
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Homeowners in the DC Ranch neighborhood love the Sissoo trees in their neighborhood, but the HOA wanted them gone.
Tom LaPorte, a resident of the neighborhood, said the HOA started trying to remove the trees in 2020.
“This has been a nightmare for three years,” La Porte said to NBC affiliate KPNX.
Sissoo trees have a reputation for damaging roads and pipes with their sprawling roots.
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DC Ranch decided removing all of the trees would be the best solution for the problem.
LaPorte and other residents fought back against this, saying it went against the neighborhood's development plan and removed the benefits of the trees.
He also claimed the HOA failed to properly maintain the trees which could lead to the damage they cause.
Despite the resistance from residents, the HOA proceeded to cut down the trees against their will. They even allegedly continued during negotiations with residents.
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In a last-ditch effort to save the trees, LaPorte rallied with neighbors and filed a request for a restraining order against DC Ranch. The order prohibited the HOA from cutting any more trees.
It was only a temporary solution though, and the HOA allegedly started sending $3,000 fines to residents to pay for the tree removals.
These fines even went to neighbors who didn't have any trees taken down or didn't want them taken down.
“I didn’t take my trees out. I don’t know why I should have to pay for anybody else.” Juli La Porte said.
“For me to have to pay for that is just not right.”
The community plans to continue to fight by bringing forward another lawsuit against the HOA.
The U.S. Sun has reached out to DC Ranch for comment.
