Tree ordinances are not necessarily a bad thing if they allow for reasonable use of the property. Cutting mature trees down for the sake of reducing property maintenance, or improving roadside signage can create a blight on a community.
You're right. Large swaths of my little town have been ruined by commercial property owners --who do not live in town-- clear cutting their lots simply because they don't want to pay for leaf clean up.
And blight is exactly what we've gotten. My town now has lower property values than adjacent towns that have more effective tree ordinances. We are also starting to get gang-related graffiti and an influx of low-rent types.
These things are not unrelated.