FPL to Trim Trees After North Naples Woman Raises Safety Concerns
NORTH NAPLES,Fla. – A North Naples woman’s fears about potentially hazardous trees on a neighboring property have prompted Florida Power and Light (FPL) to schedule a trimming operation. Ania Graves voiced her concerns during a recent WINK Listens event in collier County, highlighting the risk the trees pose to her home during storms.
Graves, a Naples resident, expressed worry about several tall Australian pines bordering her property. “I’m scared. Every year we have a hurricane, and you know these trees can come right through my house,” she said. The trees’ proximity to power lines further compounded her anxieties.
Despite repeated attempts to address the issue,Graves found herself facing roadblocks. She contacted FPL, Cable, and Collier County officials, as well as the real estate company managing the neighboring property, but received no resolution. “I don’t want the trees to be cut. I want them to be trimmed. But Florida Power and Light says no.Cable says no, and the county says no. What can I do?” Graves explained, adding that her insurance company advised her only to prepare for potential damage.
According to real estate attorney Kevin Jursinski, Florida law attempts to balance property rights with the responsibility to prevent foreseeable harm. “The whole goal in Florida is that they try to do a balancing act that you have the right to have things on your property, but if those things on your property are foreseeable and cause damage to someone else’s property, you are liable for that damage,” Jursinski stated. While property owners can trim encroaching branches and roots, reporting trees that are dying or pose a falling risk is crucial for establishing neighbor liability.
Graves emphasized her concern extended beyond her own property. “I don’t want it for me. I don’t want it for my neighbors. I don’t even want it for the renters because I care for my neighbors,” she said.
Following inquiries from WINK News, FPL has confirmed that crews will be dispatched to trim the trees, addressing Graves’ safety concerns.
