According to authorities, a property owner in Kinnelon, New Jersey, illegally felled 32 large trees on his neighbor’s property — exposing a property that real estate listings have described as an ideal place to “watch the sunrise.” [the] The New York City skyline like gold.”
A conference call hearing in a city court on Tuesday regarding the indictment against Grant Haber attracted so many people that the city’s attorney general was initially unable to intervene. Much of the attention appears to have been drawn by a Twitter post that was retweeted thousands of times the day before the session began.
Kinnelon’s Tree Felling Ordinance dictates that anyone who illegally fells a tree must replace it with “another like or superior species.” In the Twitter post, user Sam Glickman said he was told that Haber had cited a $1.5 million cost to build an access road to allow access for tree replacements, and then plant the new trees and water them for two years. Municipal officials have not confirmed this number, however.
Violations of the ordinance also carry a fine of up to $1,000 per tree.
Haber was charged with nine counts of illegal tree felling. The case was adjourned Tuesday to allow his attorney to review the evidence.
The tree was felled on March 4 and the indictment was filed on March 14, according to documents sent to Haber. In the case, two tree felling services were also charged.
Haber’s own 7-acre property sits on a “completely private mountaintop” with an in-ground pool and waterfall that several real estate websites describe as “completely private mountaintop.” According to the listings, it is in one of Kinnelon’s “most prestigious and family-friendly neighborhoods”. Realtor.com estimates its value at nearly $1.75 million.
Haber did not respond to a call message and his attorney declined to comment.
gothamist.com
https://gothamist.com/news/authorities-say-nj-homeowner-cut-down-32-of-neighbors-trees-the-cost-could-be-huge
