Like a good neighbor...
When the missus and I bought our current home, 20 acres behind us was divided into three parcels of heavily wooded land owned by heirs to the dearly departed, who didn't like each other in life. One group controlling 7&1/2 acres wanted ~$200k/acre. We figured nobody would pay that price, and if negotiations started, the other two groups would want the big bucks. We were safe, right?
Nooooooooo... A fill-in builder gets ambitions to develop a signature community, one which would bring him awards and get him into magazines. He actually made contracts to acquire the 20 acres, got his concept approved with 60-63 homes starting @ $400k on midget lots around a "central park," complete with a mini muscadine vineyard.
He lures a partner with the financial clout to back him and begins development. He goes way over time & budget (starting price now ~$600k; not selling so quick). Also, his execution pared off the roots of a huge leaning red oak and saturated the soil at the base of its trunk every time it rained. We explained that the tree's fall was imminent and threatened our property. We urged them to take it down. We pleaded with the city for aid in prompting them to swift action. They dillyed. They dallied. One stormy night, two years later, it fell.
Fortune was with us in that it came within centimeters of the house without causing damage, but it did take out ~100 ft of brand new fencing, all of our patio furtniture, two mature dogwoods, and one mature sour cherry. It also damaged the roof of our outbuilding.
Given the developers track record for "neighborliness," we went with our insurance company and arbitration.