Low tree branches in my development ..Update

[solman]

I came home from a trip 2 weeks ago and broke my ac shroud on a low branch that I just could not avoid. That was a $200 hit. Now 2 weeks later and the trees have filled out and there are a number of low hanging branches in my path out of development. My front ac is at 13foot 5 inches in height.
At the moment I feel like I am stuck at home.
Anyone have any suggestions?
I don't believe the township will do anything about this.
thanks

Update...I did call the township DPW and finally got a call back. They are more accommodating than they were some years ago. They did a drive by and acknowledged some low hanging branches in the street and said they would get to it this summer.
I hope it's sooner rather than later but at least they will take care of it.
I think it's now a waiting for this to be done.

[PButler96]

nickthehunter wrote:

enblethen wrote:
There are federal regulations for clearances.

maybe you should post a link to them; that would probably be tremendously. Helpful to the OP.

enblethen wrote:
Here is listings used by City of Seattle
Clearances
Here is some basic information from
Federal Highways Administration

The OP lists his location as "Deep in the heart of Jersey".
I don't think the city of Seattle has anything to do with New Joisey but from what I can tell as screwed up as that place seems to be, they would probably try and annex New Jersey if they could get away with it. The other link is a "design guide".

The OP mentions his township, which would lead one to believe its a township owned and maintained road. If so the Federal Government, nor Seattle WA even, has nothing to do with it. The road could even be owned and maintained by the "development" he mentions as far as that goes, in which case his township would or could do nothing, as he mentioned.

You can find tens of thousands of roads in older parts of the US that have clearance issues for whatever reason that don't even get close to any federal standard. How about narrow one lane bridges on two lane roads with a stop sign facing each direction or a tunnel that a box truck can only get through by straddling the center line?

In our township in Ohio the 3 supervisors run for elected office for one reason and one reason only. That is so they can appoint themselves roadmaster which comes with a salary, a coveted and lucrative position depending on the township. It does not mean they're any good at road maintenence although the current ones do a decent job of clearing snow on the township controlled roads while plowing your driveway closed..

[enblethen]

Here is listings used by City of Seattle
Clearances
Here is some basic information from
Federal Highways Administration

[nickthehunter]

enblethen wrote:
There are federal regulations for clearances.

maybe you should post a link to them; that would probably be tremendously. Helpful to the OP.

[QCMan]

Twice a year the wife and I go down our road and trim the branches. We only need 12' but if we needed 14 we would still do it. In nine years we have not had any complaints. At first a pole lopper would work but we are up to a ladder in the pickup bed and a chain saw. We are lucky that there is not a lot of traffic.

[snowpeke]

I live on a road about 1/2 mile from the main road. With about thirty homes on it. So I got a fiberglass pruning poll and walked the whole road and trimmed them. A little work but now no problems!

[PButler96]

enblethen wrote:
There are federal regulations for clearances.

For a township road in NJ? Perhaps the OP should call Joe Biden and ask him to send someone over with a chainsaw?

We have a railroad bridge a few miles away from home that the clearance is 10'-6", you drive a 1/2 mile on the same road and go under the same railroad line and that clearance is 9'-0". Not sure how the Feds look at that.

[enblethen]

There are federal regulations for clearances.

[PButler96]

This is like answering an auto insurance question for someone in Hawaii when you live in Maine. What township governments can and can't do is regulated by the individual state. As an example, here a township can trim a tree on private property but only at the right of way line if it's a township road. The township had to pass and publish a specific ordinance per state code. No ordinance and they open themselves up to a potential lawsuit from the property/tree owner. The township can't do anything if it's a state or county road in the township ordinance or not.

How about a midnight walk with a cordless polesaw?

[Lwiddis]

IF, enblethen, New Jersey allows tort claims against a town for low clearance trees and IF the tree is owned by the town.

[msmith1_wa]

They should trim them and you should file a claim for the damages.

[BB_TX]

First thing to do is contact your township, explain the problem, and ask if they will trim those limbs. Might be surprised. Might not.

[enblethen]

They should cut the tree limbs back to meet clearance on the street. Should be 16 foot minimum and should be 19-foot clearance. You should be able to file a TORT claim for damages!