Homeowner Allegedly Cuts Down Neighbor’s Trees for Better View
A Nantucket homeowner is in hot water after cutting down a row of 50-year-old trees belonging to his neighbor. This drastic action seems aimed at enhancing the view from his property, which is currently on the market for nearly $10 million.
Patricia Belford, the neighbor in question, claims that Jonathan Jacoby trespassed onto her land in February, chopping down 16 trees, including tall cedars, cherry, and Leyland cypress trees.
Just a few months later, Jacoby put his four-bedroom, three-bath home up for sale at 3 Tautemo Way, listing it for $9.975 million under the name “Endless Blue Horizon.” This detail was revealed in a Nantucket Superior Court lawsuit filed on June 23.
In a previous listing, the 0.46-acre property was valued at $1.825 million; the pricing raised some eyebrows, especially since it had a $30,000 asking price for one of its features.
“I believe that when all the evidence is laid out, justice will prevail,” commented Matt Ellisman, who manages Belford’s property. He shared his thoughts regarding the case with a local outlet.
Belford expressed frustration, saying that much of what was lost is irreplaceable, and she’s simply tired of it all.
The trees, planted by the Belford family in the 1970s, had become essential, providing a natural barrier along the shared boundary, contributing to the property’s aesthetics, privacy, and shade quality.
Ellisman discovered the damage during a cleanup process. While clearing the area at 1 Tautemo Way, he came across the tree stumps and remnants of what was once a lush landscape.
Krasimir Kirillov, a landscape architect working with Jacoby, later told the police that Jacoby himself was responsible for cutting down the trees and had hired him to remove the debris.
“When my caretaker Matt arrived at the property, I was almost finished with the cleanup. He seemed completely unaware of what was happening,” noted Kirilov in a statement to police.
Belford was taken aback when she learned about the situation and conveyed to the authorities that she had no prior knowledge of these alterations.
Authorities have since begun looking into the matter, and charges against Jacoby are reportedly pending.
Belford is now seeking over $1.4 million in damages, estimating each cut tree at about $486,000, which certainly adds a hefty financial angle to the situation.
According to local laws, individuals who knowingly cut down trees on another person’s property can face significant penalties. Jacoby’s attorney, Jim Marberg, has stated that his client believed he had permission to remove the trees.
“My clients maintain they were allowed to remove those dead trees,” Marberg commented. “It’s clear that this was done in a manner suggesting permission was granted, and we’ll sort this out in court.”
