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Article Courtesy of
Channel 34 CW West Palm
By Al Pefley
Published September 28, 2026
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PORT ST. LUCIE — Some residents in Port St. Lucie and their homeowners'
association are at odds over dead trees.
People who live in Cadence at Tradition received a notice dated Sept. 1 from
Campbell Property Management on behalf of Cadence at Tradition Homeowners
Association Inc., saying the dead tree or dead trees on their property need to
be replaced.
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The notice says: "Your assistance and
cooperation are requested regarding the following:
Landscaping-Dead Tree- The deceased tree(s) on your property
is in need of attention."
Residents say the trees are on the swale, the strip of grass
between the sidewalk and the street, and numerous trees were
killed during a cold snap.
Because the dead trees are on the swale, some residents say
it should be the HOA's job to replace them at the HOA's
expense, not the homeowners.
"It's just a little bit frustrating and disappointing that
we, as homeowners, have to endure this from the HOA," said
Keyla Peguero, a homeowner at Cadence at Tradition.
Recently the HOA has removed many of the dead trees, leaving
holes in the ground where residents are supposed to put in
new trees, at the homeowners' expense.
But homeowners such as Chip Collison say the dead trees were
in common areas, not their yards, so they want the HOA to
pay for new trees in the swales.
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Port St. Lucie residents are challenging Cadence at
Tradition's HOA demand to replace trees killed by cold weather,
arguing those on easements should be the association’s
responsibility.
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"You think the swale is a common area?" we asked Collison.
"Based on the documentation I've read? Yes," Collison explained.
The notice sent to homeowners goes on to say: "We kindly request you address
this matter by 9/30/26 to avoid escalation."
The letter does not say what action will be taken if a homeowner does not
replace the dead trees.
Some residents say now is not the best time to replace the
dead trees. They say if new trees need to be planted, it should be done in
April, at the start of the growing season. Some say if new trees are planted
now, they could be wiped out by a freeze in the months ahead.
"We're well into hurricane season now. If we plant new trees, no one can predict
the future. These trees could be freshly planted. We get a strong hurricane come
through, they're all gone, and they're gonna have to be redone again," Collison
said.
Peguero says she replaced a dead tree in the swale in front of her house, at a
total cost of $300 to remove the dead tree, haul it away and replace it with a
new tree. She says she's not willing to do it again and shouldn't have had to do
it in the first place.
A public relations firm for The Cadence at Tradition HOA sent us this written
statement:
“Currently, the HOA is replacing thousands of dead trees
and shrubs in the common areas that have yet to recover from the last freeze. In
the limited common areas, such as the rights of way immediately adjacent to and
between individual lots, including areas containing sidewalks and driveway
aprons, residents are responsible for replacing trees and maintaining these
areas. Because the HOA is currently purchasing and installing trees in bulk,
we’ve invited residents to participate in the program. This allows homeowners to
share in the cost savings while ensuring that tree replacements around their
homes are selected and installed professionally.” |
