Article Courtesy of The West Orange Times

By Suzan E. Kurdak

Published October 16, 2013

Several Westyn Bay residents spoke at last week’s Ocoee City Commission meeting and asked the commissioners to join them in their fight against the homeowners association’s plans to remove more than 450 trees from the neighborhood. 

Many sidewalks of this gated Ocoee community are breaking apart and “popping out.” The HOA said maturing tree roots are to blame for the sidewalk damage and members of the board are fearful of injuries to residents, as well as potential lawsuits. 

Greg Keethler, HOA president and director, said: “We’re not anti-tree. This represents the biggest financial threat we have.” 

Keethler said the HOA has already spent several thousand patching and repairing sidewalks and someone has already been hurt by the uneven pavement. 

Myra Couzo, who has lived in the community for nearly 10 years, said: “I think there’s another solution other than denuding the neighborhood. If people do want their trees, I think they should be able to keep them and our HOA should support that. I feel very strongly that it’s wrong, just wrong, to take 450 trees out of this world, let alone out of Westyn Bay.” 

Some residents said they are concerned about property values. 

Sue Lizinski said she feels that the trees add value to the homes and are desirable and that her tree-lined street “is getting prettier by the year.” 

Resident and Realtor Lucy Martinelli said removing the trees would hurt property values in the neighborhood. 

She added, “What would reporters say about Ocoee not supporting trees?” 

Commissioner John Grogan responded: “This commission did not vote to have a clear-cut of your property. We allowed them [HOA] to come up with options to present to you. It’s your private property. We don’t want the trees to be cut down. It’s not city property. We did not tell them or give them permission to cut down the trees.” 

Three of the five Westyn Bay HOA board members were in attendance at the Oct. 1 commission meeting. 

Ken Bayer, who has been on the board since March, said: “This has been discussed every meeting since I’ve been there. The chance of a liability claim against our HOA — it’s going to happen. The board has to do its fiduciary duty.” 

He added that the amount of trees to be cut represents 12 percent of the trees in the neighborhood. 

The HOA has said homeowners may keep the tree in front of their home if they sign a document agreeing to maintain the sidewalks and pay for additional liability insurance. 

“At the end of the day, it’s the residents’ decision what to do,” said Keethler. 

Commissioner Joel Keller said he didn’t believe an owner could insure a common area and encouraged more discussion on the subject. 

“Unfortunately, people don’t move unless it affects their pocketbook,” he said. 

“It’s a private HOA,” said Commissioner Rusty Johnson. “It’s not up to us up here. It’s got to be you [residents] to show up at your meeting and show them what you want to do.” 

Commissioner Rosemary Wilsen encouraged regular attendance at HOA meetings and advised residents “not to stop at this issue.” 

Mayor Scott Vandergrift said, “You know me, I’m a tree-hugger."

He then addressed the HOA board: “Why not find out what the insurance is to cover the trees and find if all agree to raise dues to cover it? There should be ways to not slaughter the trees.” 

The HOA hosted a meeting on Monday to discuss its plan with residents.