My Libertarian leanings aside, good for Woodside. The environment is a public good and there is a mechanism for redress. One may not like delays, but there are bigger tragedies in life than having to modify plans around trees that actually add value to a property (putting aside the public benefit).

Mr. Koppl: Boooooo! Pay up sir.

So, so, so tired of these jerks moving to our area and then deciding to build monstrosities, destroying the rural character of our little towns. So many friends have moved away now, disheartened by the way Woodside has changed. After selling their (wonderful, well-maintained, well-built) homes and barns on acreage, they find that the new owners have leveled everything, and taken out trees. Plans to build essentially bunkers and hotels await.


Awful.

Good for you, Woodside! It's time someone representing its citizens acted on the majority's behalf. And that of the living trees and innumerable animals and critters that had their lives ruined.

For too many people, having to "get what they want!" has become too costly for all of us in this once-bucolic place and will only worsen severely if these fines are lessened.

There have been several instances in the past when similar large fines have been reduced. I hope they stand tough on this and all future violations. If the Town Council continues to undermine these requirements, the "it's better to seek forgiveness than ask permission" mentality will persist.

Stand your ground Woodside, once you get the rep for being easy everyone will cut and figure they will get it reduced later. Once you get a rep for being hard you will have less of these problems pop up. Many will think twice over a $200,000 fine verses a $10,000 fine, $10,000 is pocket change, make it hurt and it will stop.

I hope Woodside makes them pay the full fine. It is disgusting the way people come to a beautiful place and then destroy it wholesale just to build a big house

It's kind of amazing that he thought he could fell trees in Woodside without a permit. That's just not how it works around here ... It's called "Woodside" for a reason, not "Prairieside".

People do need to be honest. Sounds like Koppl was a liar to the town staff.

212,000 are you kidding. Excessive and out of line. Sure he should have obtained a permit but how many of those trees are really needed. Woodside is full of houses that are over the top and bigger then then then they need to be. Can all his neighbors say they didn't do the same thing?
All those complainers are probably the same people who decided that the water restriction laws do not apply to them and watered their big lawns 4 days a week. Fight that fine and good luck.... You do need to get permits like everyone else though. Do it the right way

As a resident of Woodside who believes the General Plan actually means something, I'm gratified to read the many comments in support of the significant fine imposed on this apparent scofflaw.

However, I have little confidence that the Woodside Council--one that's dominated by pro development members--has the willingness nor courage to reject the appeal. Instead, they'll work assiduously to uncover some minor procedural error committed by either the Town staff or by a Town Board, Commission or committee. Then citing a wish to avoid a potential lawsuit, they'll reduce the fine to some trivial amount. At least, that's what the Council typically does.

It's unfortunate Woodside doesn't elect Council members who respect the environment as much as they do development.

I am SICK and TIRED of people moving here and not caring to assimilate to our way of life. The people fretting over illegal immigration forget that what we really need to focus our attention on how easily it is for people to legally immigrate into Woodside. They come from other areas of California, and in many cases, even other STATES. I once met a property owner that was born in Oregon, why are they allowed to move here and buy OUR land?? Was there a community vote to allow these people in? Where is our democracy??

Also, remember, we are moving towards the end of so called private property. People need to accept that. You do not own the trees on "your" land, the community owns them. We should move to a leasehold system where the government owns every parcel and leases it out to residents. This way we can achieve the twin goals of limiting individual's free use land and limiting immigration by preventing people from outside of the community from moving here.

Life long woodside:

funny

The Woodside region has a biological fabric of trees shrubs creeks and Wildlife and weather impacts. It needs to be managed and protected to maintain its integrity..... for all residents, visitors and surrounding communities.

I used to commute through the beautiful avenue formed by those old trees and a goat farm on the other side of Woodside Road to go to Palo Alto before Mr arrogant felled all of them and another Mr. Gentleman Farmer removed the herd and planted his vineyard.
A very poor commute at present.
My community is La Honda.
Taruno

Woodside residents need to show up at the council meeting, or this matter will be met with the same lackadaisical response the council has shown in the past to tree-cutting scofflaws.

Aerial views of the Bay Area show that our Peninsula greenbelt extends from approximately 280 west. Let's keep Woodside GREEN.

The fines are too low. $212K to someone who wants to build an ego palace - that's just the "cost of doing business". A small percent of the total cost won't bother them. They will still cut down trees and negotiate the fine and be happy they got away with it. Fines need to actually affect the gazillionaires who build these McMansions. Maybe it should go up to $100K per tree after 3 trees illegally cut. Fines at the level MIGHT influence their decisions and change their behavior.

According to testimony at the town council meeting, it was far more than 22 trees removed without a permit. The vacant 3 acre parcel was purchased last year for $7,250,000 and resold at the beginning of this month. The trees were removed to create a building site and access driveway prior to flipping the property. The town council denied the appeal after hearing testimony from the appellant's attorney, civil engineer and arborist. The $212,500.00 fine stands after a unanimous vote by the town council.