Staten Island developers hammer Parks Dept. for 'ridiculous' tree removal cost

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Since July, the city has collected $293,885 for the removal of just 39 trees, according to City Parks Department records.

And in the city's last fiscal year -- from July 1, 2013 to July 1, 2014 -- the agency took in $2.7 million for the removal of 275 trees.

This comes out to about $7,500 to nearly $10,000 per tree. And that doesn't include the actual cost of tree removal -- it's just the fee that has to be paid to the Parks Department.

That cost, Staten Island developers say, is so exorbitant that is hurts development and forces them to pass the cost on to customers.

"The cost is ridiculous. ...A 24-inch tree could have a value of upwards of $60,000. (Parks' formula) is an overly aggressive way of valuing trees," said Robert Kelly, an Island-based developer and broker/owner of Master's Realty in Oakwood.

He contends that the Parks Department's pricingso excessivethat, in some cases, it's prohibiting builders from developing projects in the borough, and hurting homebuyers or commercial real estate customers who have to dig deeper to cover the expense.

A LAWSUIT IS FILED

Last year, the Building Association of New York City filed a lawsuit against the Parks Department, demanding a review of the way the agency calculates a tree's "value." The case has been adjourned several times; the next court date isJan. 30 in Supreme Court, St. George.

Some of the delay can be attributed to the Parks Department change in venue request. The agency wanted the case moved toManhattan.

"We (the Association) felt this should be heard on Staten Island," said Kelly.

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Staten Island developers hammer Parks Dept. for 'ridiculous' tree removal cost