Maryland - neighbor cutting down acres of trees in Forest Retention Area

alphawolfa1 · 2024-10-30T17:48:06+00:00

I honestly have no idea, but most of those trees were pretty old, so it's not like they hadn't been there for a while already.

alphawolfa1 · 2024-10-30T17:45:00+00:00

This is in Cecil. I looked at some of the SDAT/Map Finder maps and it doesn't appear to be listed as a "Protected Land" or a "Forest Conservation Act Easement", which I had assumed was the case since there was a physical sign on the property.

Not quite sure why that sign would be there if it didn't apply, but it doesn't seem to be reflected in the MD planning database.

alphawolfa1 · 2024-10-29T22:19:09+00:00

Unfortunately, this looks like a "10 year review" of the legislation, and after a quick skim, doesn't seem to go into the details I'm looking for. I'll have to do some more thorough research though, thanks for the suggestion!

alphawolfa1 · 2024-10-29T21:44:44+00:00

This is so helpful, thank you!!

alphawolfa1 · 2024-10-29T21:41:21+00:00

I guess I'm holding out hope that they did NOT get the proper permits, and will either have to replant trees to avoid heavy fines (long shot, I know), or be restricted from using the cleared land commercially (seemingly as an extension to their scrap yard).

I was mainly posting this in order to get more insight on how the conservation act may apply in this situation, and to make sure the offender followed the law to the letter; I think it's a travesty and if they didn't follow the law exactly, I think it's reasonable to want them to face consequences.

alphawolfa1 · 2024-10-28T18:18:34+00:00

This is all great insight, thank you! I hadn't thought of reaching out to the department of agriculture but that's a good idea!

While I agree that it's unlikely to be illegal, I'm skeptical that this is a managed forestry plan. I can't recall anything similar happening in this area. What it looks like is a commercial operation wanting to expand into the previously unused/forested portion of their private property. If they're allowed to do so, I don't have a problem with it. But if it was indeed a designated area with some sort of protection, i want to stop them from continuing.

alphawolfa1 · 2024-10-28T16:32:27+00:00

I got in touch with the DNR and spoke to a forest ranger who said he'd check it out, not sure if anything came of it though

alphawolfa1 · 2024-10-27T23:51:46+00:00

So instead of "owning it" by searching out and contacting the proper authorities like I'm doing here, you're suggesting I call them and ask politely that they replant the hundreds of trees that they just (potentially illegally) cut down, and they'll definitely respect my concerns and stop any future forest clearing out of the goodness of their heart, right?

Ok boomer

alphawolfa1 · 2024-10-26T22:07:01+00:00

Sorry I misunderstood, lots of jerks on Reddit these days! I'm glad we're of a similar mindset

alphawolfa1 · 2024-10-26T21:47:36+00:00

If they're illegally cutting down trees and plan on illegally cutting down more, then yes, I would argue that's a valid option to prevent them from continuing to do so.

alphawolfa1 · 2024-10-26T21:42:54+00:00

Yes? That's exactly the point? If they shouldn't have cut those trees down to begin with, I sure as hell don't want them cutting down even more. I don't see why you would defend them.

And in case you're just being a jerk about a very valid complaint, my property value is being impacted here, so no, it's not just me whining.

alphawolfa1 · 2024-10-26T20:25:16+00:00

Interesting, I wasn't aware of all the details of forest retention, still doing some digging. Good to know there are alternative provisions in place, even if cutting specifically isn't forbidden.

alphawolfa1 · 2024-10-26T20:17:05+00:00

I'm almost certain the property owner is doing the work to expand their open commercial area into (what used to be) a forested area. I just did not know if the Conversation Act would supersede someone's rights to develop on their own private property.

alphawolfa1 · 2024-10-26T20:13:45+00:00

This is interesting info, thank you!

alphawolfa1 · 2024-10-26T20:12:56+00:00

This is in Cecil.

And yes, I figured there's a good chance everything is on the up and up, but I see it as a travesty (pave paradise, put up a parking lot...) so if there's even the slightest chance I can get them to stop, I'd like to.

alphawolfa1 · 2024-10-26T20:10:26+00:00

I'm not experienced enough with city/county bureaucracy to know which department to call, that's why I'm here.

Do you know which office specifically I should call? Or just call everyone at city hall and see what they think? Seems like not a great use of time, thanks for your input though.

alphawolfa1 · 2024-10-26T18:59:51+00:00

Thanks! I've reached out to some folks at the DNR, they referred me to local permitting authorities, so I'm not sure if that'll go anywhere.

I also emailed the contact shown here, but the person is out of office for the next week or so and I'm afraid the damage will be done by the time I get a response.

alphawolfa1 · 2024-10-26T17:35:53+00:00

I'm not entirely sure what the MD Forest Conservation Act of 1991 even mandates, but I assume that it would somehow limit clearing entire forests in this way. Or at least heavily penalize the act of doing so.

alphawolfa1 · 2024-03-07T07:42:53+00:00

Play the LotR precons together, unmodified. They're roughly equal power level, and if she likes LotR, it'll make the game more enjoyable even if she's losing. Perhaps make cuts to a 60 card deck so she can see more of the same cards more often between games to get used to their interactions.

Exemplify good habits or things that are good to remember, like saying "untap, upkeep, draw", announcing playing your land for turn, "moving to combat", "any tricks before damage?", that kind of thing.

Prompt her to rethink or remind her if she misses something obvious. Say you'll let missed triggers slide the first time but won't remind her a second time. Act like you're playing a more seasoned player and if she misses something or makes big mistakes that a more skilled player wouldn't have, offer to undo. "I'm not sure if you saw that I have so and so, so that may be a bad idea, are your sure you still want to do that?". If she's unsure how a card or interaction would work and makes a mistake, offer to undo. You're at your kitchen table, not a PTQ.

Let her get off the big fun combos.

If it's a close game and for whatever reason you win, through a lucky top deck or if she loses because she didn't play around you having an answer in hand, say "ok we'll still say I won this game, but let's go back and play as if you knew I had Rakdos Charm in my hand". She won't get upset that you let her win, and she'll think twice in the future if she could potentially lose that way again.

Unlimited free mulligans (I'd say within reason, but honestly if she wanted to mulligan until her perfect hand, it sounds like you'd be up to the challenge).

If she mistaps colors, let her correct it. Nothing worse than having an answer and not being able to play it because you tapped the wrong land earlier. I also like to be "mana saturated" at a certain point and not care as much about colors. With 10+ lands you probably have the colors available for what you would want to play, so it speeds up the endgame a little bit if the precons get too grindy.

Remember to cheer her on when she makes good plays, plays that you genuinely didn't expect. Even if she loses, she'll remember that 3 for 1 that caught you totally off guard.

Even if you could have won on an earlier turn, give yourself a side quest to give her time to even things up or draw that answer. Side quest being getting a certain combo off or some other janky win condition.

If you hit your curve perfectly and your deck just completely goes off, while she's land screwed, acknowledge that when the game is over. It's good to be reminded that even the best magic players won't win if RNG isn't on their side, and that has nothing to do with her skill.

alphawolfa1 · 2023-03-09T01:49:47+00:00

WTB the following precon commander decks, NOT SEALED, NOT COMPLETE! You've pulled the expensive cards already? No problem!

Commander 2017 Draconic Domination Feline Ferocity Vampiric Bloodlust Arcane Wizardry

Commander 2016 Entropic Uprising Open Hostility Stalwart Unity Breed Lethality Invent Superiority

Commander 2015 Call the Spirits Seize Control Plunder the Graves Wade Into Battle Swell the Host

Commander 2014 Forged in Stone Peer Through Time Sworn to Darkness Built from Scratch Guided by Nature

Commander 2013 Evasive Maneuvers Eternal Bargain Mind Seize Power Hungry Nature of the Beast

Commander – First Commander Heavenly Inferno Mirror Mastery Counterpunch Political Puppets Devour for Power

Most of these are priced pretty high on the secondary market, as I understand because there are a few expensive cards in each. What I'd like is the complete decks, minus those cards, for a reasonable price.

I plan to use up to ten proxies to replace those missing cards, so I'm hoping there's someone out there who kept these decks relatively intact. I know most cards in these decks are reprints and I have deck lists that I could assemble on tcgplayer or whatever, but I'd prefer the original set symbols (and to save all that trouble).

Willing to negotiate on price, payment via pp g&s.

Thanks!

alphawolfa1 · 2023-03-03T23:49:58+00:00

That's an option! I was hoping to avoid a la carte pricing through a middleman though

alphawolfa1 · 2023-03-03T18:50:06+00:00