Richard Treanor and Carolynn Bissett face criminal charges for not cutting redwoods that have grown to block a neighbor’s panels. (Paul Rogers, “Sunnyvale homeowners told to cut redwoods that block solar panels”, San Jose Mercury News, Jan. 24)(h/t: Karen Myers).
More: Kevin at Truck and Barter thinks the local statute, which includes elements of first-in-time first-in-right, does a relatively good job at drawing bright-line rules to protect the competing legitimate interests of the property owners. For arguably relevant history, check out the old English doctrine of “ancient lights“.
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Richard Treanor and Carolynn Bissett own a Prius and consider themselves environmentalists.
Their neighbor Mark Vargas considers himself an environmentalist, too. His 10-kilowatt solar system, which he installed in 2001, is so big he pays only about $60 a year in electrical bills. He drives an electric car.
What can be more satisfying that watching so-called environmentalists fighting among themselves? Even better it is over a law passed by Jerry Brown. I have a modest suggestion. Why don’t we chop down all of the Giant Redwoods? Just think of how many solar panels they could be blocking!
Anybody want to bet that if they cut the trees they get busted for it? There has to be a local ordinance banning tree cutting there somewhere, after all it is in California.
Jim, you know not how truly you speak.
I lived in the SF Bay area many years ago. The local supermarket had a large (I think pine)tree in a side parking lot which had died. What do you do if you have a tree that may be in danger of falling over and possibly injuring someone? You cut it down of course. That is unless you are in California. They chained off the side parking lot (reducing their capacity by about a third). After about 3-4 weeks, it was finally taken down. I asked why it had taken so long and the answer I got was that they had to get permits (yup, plural)from the town, the county and the state as well as (and this is the icing on the cake)permission from the local historical landmarks commission because the tree was estimated to be more than 75 years old.
This and other absurdities eventually convinced me that living in Califonia was hazardous to my sanity (should there be a Prop 65 warning about that be posted at the borders?) so I left.
“..it does apply to existing trees and shrubs that later grew big enough to shade the solar panels. ”
Um, yeah, you don’t ordinarily expect that kind of behavior out of a plant; growing and all.
Vargas should have placed his panels on redwoods as well, then they all grow up together!
It seems this is a personal property/rights issue and NOT an environmental issue as is implied. Environmentalists are human as well and display the same selfishness and greed that other humans display. I do agree that it is a ridiculous situation and a waste of the court’s time as well as lack of forethought by the California legislature.
Goliah said: “Environmentalists are human as well and display the same selfishness and greed that other humans display.”
Yes, but the goal of environmentalism is to make the environment cleaner and more sustainable for the whole world and, presumably, all people that live on the planet. That sounds very altruistic, so it is deliciously ironic to see such good intentions wielded for the purposes of selfishness and greed.
” but the goal of environmentalism is to make the environment cleaner and more sustainable for the whole world and”
No, that’s only the stated goal.
The actual goal is to establish a communist style central government that’s in total control of all aspects of daily life, a government of course run by the environmentalists.