Eden Prairie Man Fined $25K for Cutting Down Trees

Eden Prairie fined the owner of a $2.6 million mansion nearly $25,000 for illegally cutting down protected trees in his back yard, the Star Tribune reported.

The trees were in a conservation easement on the property of 39-year-old Mitchell Coopet. Conservation easements bar property owners from making changes to the easement area that could hurt the environment.

As part of a settlement approved last month Coopet agreed to pay the fine and replant 27 trees. He admitted cutting down 17 trees but said the previous owner cut down even more.

Click here to read the full Star Tribune story.