realestate

Waterfront dispute tears apart Pinellas community

Six-year court battle forces neighbors to take sides in dispute over neglected property.

A
long Red Bird Court in Seminole's Sea Pines subdivision, a two-acre plot of land has been at the center of a bitter dispute between neighbors Michael Scurry and Bradley Berg. The property, which borders eight homes including their own, was intended to be shared by all homeowners but was instead controlled by Berg after he bought it from the developer in 2012.

    Scurry, who moved into the neighborhood several years later, tried to trim some of the invasive Brazilian pepper trees encroaching on his yard. However, Berg refused, leading Scurry to file a lawsuit that has dragged on for nearly six years. The case has pitted neighbors against each other, with four siding with Scurry and 20 supporting Berg.

    As tensions escalated, relations between the two sides soured, with both parties calling the police over minor disputes. Scurry even set up security cameras and motion detectors around his property due to safety concerns. A critical error in the subdivision's founding documents allowed the dispute to arise, as the developer failed to transfer the title of the land to the homeowners association.

    Last year, a Pinellas judge ruled that all homeowners have the right to access and enjoy the land, and everyone is collectively responsible for maintaining it. However, new conflicts are emerging as Berg accuses Scurry and other defendants of taking revenge by cutting vegetation on the property. The case has become about more than just the land; it's about who gets to control a shared resource in a neighborhood where one side feels unwelcome.

    The Sea Pines Homeowners Association was resurrected after the judge's ruling, but new rules have been passed that seem aimed at restricting things that Scurry and Thibeault do. The two men refuse to recognize the group as a legitimate authority and are preparing for mediation to figure out what to do with Berg's boat dock. Despite the challenges, Scurry remains determined to fight for his rights and ensure that everyone in the neighborhood has access to the land.

Pinellas waterfront residents protest against development plans causing community division.