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12-13-06Minutes of December 13, 2006, Tree Conservation Board l~~IlNUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE TREE CONSERVATION BOARD December 13, 2006 A regular meeting of the Tree Conservation Board was held Wednesday, December 13, 2006 at the Adele Grage Cultural Center. Present were Chair Maureen Shaughnessy, Jim McCue, Carole Varney, Stephanie Catania, Public Works Director Rick Carper, and Recording Secretary Bambi Dickinson. Charles Carroll was absent. 1. Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 7:03pm. 2. Recognition of Visitors None 3. Approval of Minutes from November 8, 2006 Regular Meeting Stephanie Catania motioned to approve the minutes from the November 8, 2006 regular meeting. Carole Varney seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. 4. New Business Tree Removal Permit Applications A. 1769 Beach Avenue Gary Grider of 1407 Arden Way, Jacksonville Beach, Florida, was present to address the Board as the builder of 1769 Beach Avenue. Chair Shaughnessy noted that she had been to the site and several trees were not marked on the diagram that could be used for mitigation. Jim McCue requested the purpose of removing the 14" Camphor. Mr. Grider indicated the purpose of removing the Camphor was for construction of a driveway. He further stated the request to remove the trees was for construction of a new single-family residence. A motion was made by Stephanie Catania to instruct the Building Official to issue a Tree Removal Permit for 1769 Beach Avenue for the removal of 1-10" Camphor, 1 - 14" Camphor, 1 - 8" Palm, 1 - 9" Palm, 2 - 10" Palms, 1 - 16" Palm located in the exterior zone and 1 - 9" Palm in the interior zone. The 53" inches of removed trees are to be mitigated by 26.5" of Palm. The applicant has proposed to plant a total of 32" of Palm and 2 - 8" of Live Oaks, which more than covers the mitigation requirements. Jim McCue seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Note: The 10" and 14" Camphor in the exterior zone are trees that do not require mitigation according to the Code. B. 377 12~' Street William Tomson of 377 12~' Street, Atlantic Beach, Florida, 32266, was present to address the Board in regards to the application. Chair Shaughnessy noted that this application also had a lot of trees that were not marked that could be used for mitigation. Mr. Tomson stated that the request to remove the Magnolia was to allow for construction Minutes of December 13, 2006, Tree Conservation Board of a home and the request for removal of the Laurel Oak and Sabal Palm was due to a certified Arborist recommendation. A letter from the Certified Arborist was provided. A motion was made by Jim McCue to request the Building Official to issue a Tree Removal Permit for 377 12a` Street to remove trees as indicated on the application (1 - 25" Magnolia in the interior zone, 1 - 29" Laurel Oak, and 1 - 10" Sabal Palm in the exterior zone). The Laurel Oak and Sabal Palm do not require mitigation due to being diseased. The 25" Magnolia requires 12.5" of Hardwood to meet mitigation requirements. The mitigation requirement and completion of this application should be coordinated between the liaison (Rick Carper) and Mr. Tomson at a future date. Stephanie Catania seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. C. 1496 Camelia Street Public Works Director Rick Carper reviewed the Tree Removal Permit issued by PWD. A retired couple had requested the removal of a pine tree in the right of way due to the pine needles damaging their car and roof. The couple's church was going to do the removal for them. 5. Old Business A. 1680 Jordan Street -Cynthia Doctor Cynthia Doctor was present and provided a document showing the survey of her home. Jim McCue was approached by a man riding a bicycle and requested the name of the tree firm he represented. Mr. McCue is going to a-mail the information to Rick Carper so Ms. Doctor can research and see if this is the same person who cut down her trees. Ms. Doctor asked if she could plant new trees where the old ones were in order to help meet mitigation requirements. The Tree Board reminded her the replacements oak trees must be 4" or larger than and that Oaks must be replaced by Oaks according to City Code. In addition, three trees must be planted in the front of her home and the others could be placed in the side yard or back yard. Rick Carper informed her to get a right of way permit from the Building Department before grinding the stumps up. A motion was made by Jim McCue to instruct the Building Official to extend a Tree Removal Permit for mitigation in regards to the removal of a 1 - 10" Oak, 1 - 14" Oak, and 1 - 22" Oak all located in the exterior zone right of way. The removal requires 46" of mitigation (100% replacement required because of removal without permit) with a minimum of 3 Oaks and other hardwoods to provide 46" of replacement. In addition, request this matter be turned over to the Code Enforcement Board. Carole Varney seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Ms. Doctor expressed concern about choosing replacement trees and how to place them appropriately. Cazole Varney, who is a Master Gardener, offered assistance with placement of these trees and provided Ms. Doctor with her phone number. B. 620 Beach Avenue Rick Carper informed the Tree Board that Chris Lambertson, the contractor constructing 620 Beach Avenue, sent a letter to request his application be modified to include the 2 Minutes of December 13, 2006, Tree Conservation Board removal of 3 more Palms. Rick Carper stated the letter was received after he sent Mr. Lambertson an email indicating it appeared like more trees had been removed than approved. His letter to request his application be modified was sent in response. A motion was made by Jim McCue to inform Mr. Lambertson to make a proper request and complete a Tree Removal Application and come before the Board. Stephanie Catania seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. 6. Reports & Announcements A. It was determined that if no new Tree Removal Application had been submitted by the deadline of Friday, December 15 the December 27 meeting will be cancelled. Bambi Dickinson will inform Tree Board members on Monday, December 18, 2006 if the meeting has been cancelled. B. Rick Carper informed the Board a New Assistant Planning Director has been hired and is scheduled to start January 15, 2007. She should be present for last January 2007 meeting. C. Rick Carper reported that after two Commission meetings, the Tree Ordinances have been deferred to a third meeting. The issue being the fee for the clear-cutting fine and a definition of clear cutting. Mr. Carper suggests defining clear cutting as defoliating over 50% of a lot. In addition, he formulated a plan to determine the approximate fee a person would pay if they had clear-cut a lot going through proper legal channels. That fee came to $3.00 per a square foot. He suggests doubling the legal fee. This would be $6.00 per a square foot for clear-cutting that has not been permitted. 7. Adjournment A motion to adjourn was made by Jim McCue at 8:04pm and was seconded by Carole Varney and passed unanimously. ~~~~ Chairpers Date