A New Jersey homeowner has been accused of illegally cutting down 32 mature trees on his neighbor’s property to improve his view of New York City. The fine for such action is $1,000 per tree. So he may have calculated that getting a better view is worth $32,000.
However, there is also a statutory provision that requires the replacement of trees of the same “same size”. And it turns out the cost is an estimated $1.5 million due to the size of the trees felled and the inaccessibility of the property.
Twitter user @SamAsIAm says he is friends with the city arborist in the case, recounting the story in a Twitter thread, adding that the tree hater will be fined an additional $400,000.
2/The guy probably thought he was only going to pay a $32,000 fine. But the arborist has written violations to all three parties, 96 in total (it took him 12 hours by hand), and there is a provision requiring transplanting of like trees “of the same size”. And it’s on an inaccessible road
– Create alliances for the better and prepare for worse. (@SamAsIAm) June 26, 2023
4/4 is that he can’t pay and they pawn and sell his property, which he thinks would likely increase in value enough to make it worth a $32,000 fine to cover the costs. We live in the Jaime Dimon ethos. “So good, we can afford it.”
– Create alliances for the better and prepare for worse. (@SamAsIAm) June 26, 2023
boingboing.net
https://boingboing.net/2023/06/30/new-jersey-man-cuts-down-32-of-his-neighbors-trees-to-get-better-view-thinking-the-fine-would-be-32000-turns-out-hes-on-the-hook-for-nearly-2-million.html
