Man Wanted Perfect View Of Lake - Removed 37 Trees From City Property

[matcom]

<snip>

In the Sanctuary, a cul-de-sac where expensive homes hug the tree-lined Anderson Lakes Park, one man sought a perfect view of the blue water beyond the trees.

Eden Prairie officials say Juren Ding cleared the sightlines from his home at 8561 Crane Dance Trail by removing 37 trees from city parkland that rings the lake.

Now Ding, 39, faces a felony charge of first-degree criminal damage to property and could face up to five years of prison and/or $10,000 in fines for illegally cutting the trees valued at $21,600.

"The simple fact is it's clearly somebody trying to get a better view of a natural resource by taking down trees," said Stuart Fox, the city's manager of parks and natural resources.

Ding did not return six telephone messages and two e-mails from a reporter seeking comment.

Anderson Lakes ParkAccording to Fox, an anonymous citizen called the parks office to complain that they'd seen Ding cutting trees on city property in January 2004.

At that time, city inspectors told Ding's wife that no one is allowed to cut trees on city property, according to a police report.

More than a year later, in February of this year, police responded to another call that trees were being cut on city property behind Ding's home.

"It's someone else's property that's damaged," Hennepin County Attorney Amy Klobuchar said. "He owns a million-dollar home, and that doesn't entitle him to damage the property."

According to police, Ding admitted to cutting the trees that were 12 to 14 inches in diameter to get a better view of the lake, and he also admitted that he knew the trees did not belong to him.

"He didn't seem to think there was anything wrong. I asked him what a fence means to him," Fox said. "He cut down a lot of trees that weren't his. As any landowner, the city wouldn't go onto anyone else's property and start cutting down somebody's trees."

Such cases are not isolated in Twin Cities history.

http://startribune.com/stories/462/5503620.html

[DakotaDemocrat]

1. Eminent Domain.... n/t

[edbermac]

2. Hey I'll just burn down some buildings on my street...

They're blocking my view of the Boston skyline...especially on the 4th of July; couldn't see any of the goddamn fireworks...

[The Backlash Cometh]

4. It's not eminent domain. It's destruction of public property.

And on top of that, some cities have arbor ordinances. This is more an example of Western-style Libertarianism.

[chaska]

3. I say we give him ... oh, about five years in prison to think about it.

[RPM]

5. asshole.

...

[flamingyouth]

6. Something similar happened in Seattle.

A judge actually had some trees cut down so he could see the lake better. :eyes: