St. Petersburg code enforcement has an open investigation into a homeowner who cut down trees on his waterfront property this week without the proper permits, according to the Mayor’s Chief of Staff Kevin King.

  • Residents filed complaints with code enforcement
  • Neighbors said property recently sold
  • Ordinance protecting city's trees imposes stiff penalties

“We don’t want anyone taking advantage of Hurricane Irma to cut down trees without a permit,” King said. “There’s no grace period. It’s definitely frustrating.”

St. Pete Sustainability Council member Beth Connor, 53, filed a complaint with code enforcement when she saw heavy equipment at 7171 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St. S. on Wednesday, cutting and clearing big trees on the large property.

“I think this whole property site is a crime scene,” she said. “I am flat out furious because I love my neighborhood.”

Connor said at least six protected trees were knocked over by a bulldozer.

“What we’re seeing here is a protected pine that has been completely destroyed,” she said. “Inside, it’s healthy and there’s absolutely no reason why that should’ve been taken down. They’re moving this as fast as they can because this is just such an abomination.”

Neighbor Julius Keblinskas said he also filed a complaint with code enforcement when he first saw trees being cut down on the property over the weekend.

“He took advantage of the storm… I think it’s terrible. We used to enjoy the wooded area and it protected us from a lot of the winds that came across off the water,” he said. “Now I’m really concerned that the next storm that comes through, all these trees are going to go on top of my house.”

Keblinskas shot cell phone video of his neighbor’s tree line shortly after the storm passed that shows very minimal damage.

“There was no damage here,” he said.

An unidentified worker on the property admitted that not all of the trees they cut down were damaged. He also said the owner would be home in 15 minutes to talk to us.

We waited for an hour but the homeowner never showed up. Neighbors said the property was recently sold and the new owner wanted to clear the lot.

“If your tree has been damaged by the storm, you have a right to have that removed. If it’s in danger of life, limb and your home,” Connor said. “This is not a free-for-all to just say, ‘hey, I’m going to take down that tree -- that’s been annoying me.’”

King said code enforcement is also trying to make contact with the homeowner. Mayor Rick Kriseman plans to use BP money to plant more trees, and revised policy in September of 2015 to give trees greater protection, according to King.

“We were so happy that Mayor Kriseman allowed citizens to work with his department to strengthen our tree ordinance,” Connor said. “We’ve got some strong laws on the books and we want to see them enforced.”

The tree ordinance calls for a $500 fine per violation and $1,000 fine for every after the fact permit that is required.