After 30 years Howard Schrider is saying goodbye to his healthy linden tree.
The towering tree, which straddles both Schrider’s lawn and his neighbour’s property, has been at the centre of a growing dispute between the two residents.
The tree is scheduled to be cut down this July after Dollard-des-Ormeaux city council sided with the neighbour following years of complaints.
“It’s absurd that you will cut a tree down — a healthy tree, a beautiful and vibrant tree,” Schrider said.
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The neighbour says the sappy droppings have caused damage to their vehicle and their driveway. They told Global News they were tired of cleaning up the mess.
Schrider with the help of his daughter has started an online petition to save his tree.
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More than 500 people have signed the petition, but DDO Mayor Alex Bottausci says city council is sticking with its decision.
“Who are these 500 people? Do they live in this area?” he said.
“Are they from Dollard? Do they know this individual? Do they live in their shoes every day?”
Bottausci said the city has tried several times over four years to get to the root of the problem with the residents.
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He they have sprayed the tree multiple times in the summer but it did not work.
“It costed the city quite a bit of money in terms of labour,” Bottausci said.
“We know this is not a situation we can remedy anymore. So what we decided is to simply cut and replace it with a larger tree,” Bottausci said.
Schrider said he doesn’t want a new tree and is perfectly happy with his linden, adding he has gone to many lengths to keep his tree, including offering to buy his neighbour a car cover.
A formal legal letter has been sent to the mayor to keep the city from cutting down the tree. Bottausci says the city’s legal team will look into the matter.
Schrider doesn’t want to replace the tree because he fears it will lead to the same issues.
“As soon as the tree grows they will ask to cut it down again because it will be doing its natural function, dropping sap and leaves,” Schrider said.
The city council approved recently the implementation of 300 to 400 trees around DDO, Bottausci said. Lindens are no longer planted in the city because of their messy nature.
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