The developer destroyed the tree

Regarding that recent tree article about the tree on Loquat Avenue, where neighbors were against neighbors, well it turns out that the developer of the property is at fault for the tree problem. The homeowner does not want the trees removed, the city wants them removed because the developer hat-racked the canopy and destroyed the root system which essentially destroyed the trees, making them dangerous to both the developer and the neighbor. The developer is not a Coconut Grove resident and is using the Grove residents in an attempt to avoid spending tens of thousands of dollars to remove the trees or mitigate them with 30 four foot trees.

A huge septic drain was dug a couple of feet from the trees; they were fined for root pruning and canopy trimming without a permit.
"The result of their disregard for the code and permitting process is that all the weight of the canopies of those trees is hanging over our house, and there is no root system on their side to support the weight. These 60 foot tall trees could topple on our house with any meaningful storm. Also, the way the roots were ripped off with the a backhoe, they have exposed the tree to the rapidly engaging strangler fig disease which will destroy the trees in the next 5 years," says James Klosowski, the offended neighbor.

He went on to say, "I have to believe that developers and contractors are doing this all over the Grove, destroying the trees by circumventing the permitting process by omission or conniver. The sad outcome for these decades old trees should be used as an example to inspire Groveites to insist on strict compliance with the building code, inspections of the work in progress, and purging the inspection ranks of those who look the other way or collaborate with the developers. Perhaps we need to form a volunteer task force to review the plans for all construction in the Grove to ensure this doesn’t happen the next time an owner with deep pockets and no regard for the neighbors decides to build a spec house. Maybe the developers will get the word."

Here is the site inspection report from John LePage and the City's Planning and Zoning department. There are photos attached, too.

Update: The offending developers are: ACR Contractors, Inc., a “Design-Build” group and construction management service company. The owner is Habitus, LLC.

The homeowners and the developers lost their appeal on Tuesday and are now responsible for mitigation and/or fines.