Over $1.5M in Damages for NJ Homeowner Who Felled 32 Neighbor’s Trees
A New Jersey resident is faced with a potential bill exceeding $1.5 million for removing 32 trees from his neighbor’s property, an act he committed to enhance his view of the Manhattan skyline. This fine and restoration fee was confirmed by local authorities and the aggrieved neighbor, Samih Shinway, 40, a Kinnelon resident.
“It’s heartbreaking and maddening. These trees take a considerable amount of time to grow,” expressed Shinway, who lamented the loss of a quarter acre of his oak, birch, and maple trees.
In March, his neighbor, munitions expert Grant Haber, was fined an initial $32,000 — $1,000 for each felled tree — for unauthorized clearing of a section of the verdant, 7-acre property, as reported by borough forester John Linson to northjersey.com.
Kinnelon’s local law stipulates that any individual found guilty of unlawful tree removal must replace the tree with another of similar or superior species. The complication arises from the fact that tree restoration in this case would necessitate constructing a road to the site and watering the new trees for two years. This herculean task is estimated to cost $1.5 million, according to Shinway.
Further, Haber must take into account the expenses associated with soil addition, invasive species eradication, and clean-up. Haber, CEO of American Innovations, an antiterrorism company specializing in improvised explosive device detection, was unavailable for comments on the issue.
In addition to the hefty restoration and fines, Haber is confronting at least 32 counts of illegal tree removal and one trespassing charge, as stated by Kinnelon prosecutor Kim Kassar.
The root of the disagreement dates back to early March when Shinway spotted workers on his property severing the trees. He heard the distant noise of chainsaws from his estate, located approximately 35 miles west of New York City. Jumping onto his four-wheeler, he went to investigate the source of the noise.
To his horror, Shinway discovered his property littered with the remnants of trees that had been there for 20 to 150 years. He saw a landscape truck equipped with a large shredder and four contractors who informed him that their task was to clear the area for a better view of the city and mountain range for the owner.
Upon learning this, Shinway, a passionate advocate for forest preservation and participant in the state’s Woodland Management Program, promptly reported the incident to the police, who ordered the workers to cease their operations immediately.
Although officially counted as 32, Shinway maintains that more than 40 trees were chopped down on his property. He expressed his desire to see everything replaced, and for those responsible to bear the cost.
This neighborhood dispute gained significant attention when Sam Glickman, a friend of Linson, shared the story on Twitter, pointing out the substantial cost of replacing the trees. Glickman’s tweet went viral, receiving more than 3.8 million views, and drew an audience so large to a court hearing against Haber that it maxed out Zoom’s 100-person capacity, temporarily blocking the town prosecutor from joining.
The contractors employed by Haber to execute the tree cutting might also face an additional fine of $400,000. The Kinnelon municipal court hearing has been postponed to July 18 as defense attorney Matthew Meuller requested more time to review case materials.
However, local officials have yet to confirm the final cost for the unlawful tree removal. Haber’s luxurious residence, featuring an in-ground pool, is valued at $1.75 million.
