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ATLANTIC BEACH TREE CONSERVATION BOARD
800 Seminole Road, Atlantic Beach, Florida 32233 (904) 247-5800 phone (904) 247-5845 fax
Web site http://www.coab.us
REGULAR MEETING OF TREE CONSERVATION MEETING MINUTES
May 9, 2007
A regular meeting of the Tree Conservation Board was conducted at 7:00 p. m. on Wednesday,
May 9, 2007 in the Adele Grage Cultural Center. The presiding Chairperson Maureen Shaughnessy
adjourned the meeting at 8: SSp. m.
I. ROLL CALL
Present: Maureen Shaughnessy, Jim McCue, Carole Varney, Brea Paul, and City Liaison/Planner
Erika Hall and Recording Secretary Jessica Morales.
Excused: Stephanie Catania
Recognition of Visitors: Rick Carper (Public Works Director/Engineer), Robert Raymond, George
Bull, Jr., Mike Phillips, and Grant Van Dusen.
Approval of Minutes of April 25, 2007 Meeting: Jim McCue made the motion to approve the
minutes from the April 25, 2007 regular meeting. Carol Varney seconded the motion and it passed
unanimously.
II. NEW BUSINESS
a. Tree Removal Permits
1. 380 9"' Street (Bull on behalf of Raymond) Robert Raymond stated his name and address
for the record as well as George Bull, who is representing Mr. Raymond. Mr. Bull explained
to the board that there are some renovations being made on the property and further explained
the reason of why they need a permit to remove the 27"in. of Magnolia (interior zone) and 4
in. Palm tree (also in interior zone). Mr. Bull stated to the board that these trees will be
replaced with 13.5"in. of hardwood trees. The board discussed Mr. Bulls' request for the
removal of the trees and proposed replacement for mitigated trees.
Motion of the Board: Jim McCue made a motion for the tree removal permit for 380 9`h Street
to be granted for the removal of the 27" Magnolia (interior zone) is replaced by 13.5" of
hardwood that consists of four 3 "oaks and one 2 " oalc The 14 "Palm (interior none) will be
removed and not require mitigation. Jim McCue made a request that the building official
issue a permit for this mitigation. Carol Varney seconds the motion and the board passed it
unanimously. '
III.OLD BUSINESS
a. Mitigation
1. 1863 Mayport Road (River City Cabinets) Mr. McCue asked if there was anyone here
from River City cabinets and Ms. Hall stated no and that they were expected to be at
meeting. The board suggested to table issue and Mr. McCue felt the issue needed to be
addressed. Mr. McCue asked Rick Carper who is familiar with this issue, if there were any
wetland flagging done to property. Mr. Carper explained to board that no flagging was
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Minutes of the Tree Conservation Board Meeting -May 9, 2007 (JBM)
done and there is a open cut ditch (manmade) to serve drainage to north and no wetlands
are outside of banks & ditch. Mr. McCue asked if any permitting has been issued and Mr.
Carper stated that the owner has a St. John's River Water Management Environmental
Resource permit. Mr. McCue asked where this issue stands with our lawyers and Ms. Hall
stated that there has been nothing done with attorneys. Ms. Hall further stated that she and
Mr. Carper had a meeting with River City Cabinets and made them aware of the next Tree
Board meeting that they needed to attend. River City Cabinets were insistent in attending in
order to resolve the issue at hand. Rick further explains to board a brief summary of issue
that consisted of the Civil Engineer not communicating with Architect in order to meet the
required plan initially submitted to Public works. Cazol Varney asked what the next process
with issue is and Ms. Hall responded that in her letter there were deadlines given and if not
met it will be referred to Code enforcement department to handle.
2. Jasmine Street (1000 block, land clearing) Mike Phillips stated his name and address for
the record. Mr. Phillips also stated that the letter sent out was to the prior owners address
and asked to have it corrected. Ms. Hall stated to Mr. Phillips that Duval County has the
prior residents' information in the system and that is where she retrieved her information
for the letter. The board reviewed the aerial photos from 2006, given by Erika Hall. Rick
Carper gave a brief summary in regazds to removal of wet gazbage on lot and intent to fill
in these holes (not put fill in the land) that he communicated to the owner Mr. Phillips to
do. Mr. Phillips stated what lots he owned to board and gave the measurements of lots. Mr.
Phillips gave a brief history of his experience with pulling permits since 1986 and his
knowledge of what he can build on his lots and what trees can be removed or may require a
permit for. Mr. Phillips continued to address the board of his intent on what lots he will
build on of that he owns and assures the boazd he has a clean track record and has been
cleazed through DEP and St. Johns Water Management that he has followed all required
guidelines. The boazd was concerned with trees in the underbrush that appeared to have
been cleared by owner and why there was not a permit pulled. Mr. Phillips stated to the
board that there were no trees that required a permit and that it was strictly underbrush that
was present on lot that took a total of two days to cleaz unlike hazdwood trees would be
more time consuming to clear. Maureen Shaughnessy also addressed the concern of the
elevation grade azound roots of tree to Mr. Phillips. Mr. Phillips acknowledged he will
elevate the dirt azound trees and will also be putting in fencing. The board asked Rick
Carper if Mr. Phillips is in violation and Mr. Carper stated that DEP said there is no
violation then he can't argue with DEP's decision. Mr. Carper also stated in regazds to the
tree violation that the board will have to decide but feels there were no trees cleared. The
Board recognized that since there was no knowledge of what trees were in the underbrush if
any, that there will be no action taken, only for owner to explain his side.
Motion of the Board: Jim McCue made a motion that Erika Hall monitor lots 1, 2, 3 and
follow through with owner, as well as; take any City action necessary if Mr. Phillips does not
follow City guidelines.
105 6th Street, Lots 1-6 (Van Dusen) Grant Van Dusen stated his name and address for
the record on the behalf of Mr. George Van Dusen who was unable to attend. Erika Hall
stated that she and Mark Lyon (Public Works) went into the field view this property, then
took a lazge survey and transferred original trees that were originally permitted. All trees
originally permitted were still on lot 5, except the trees removed near the swell. Ms. Hall
did clarify that Mr. George Van Dusen stated that he was unaware of the swell being
needed until after the tree permits were issued. The board reviewed the tree survey with Mr.
Van Dusen and his sister-in-law, Tracy Van Dusen (experienced builder) and discussed
which trees were removed without tree permits. The Van Dusens stated they were unaware
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Minutes of the Tree Conservation Board Meeting -May 9, 2007 (JBM)
of these trees and that the engineering company Gary Abbey was responsible for pulling
the permits. The board explained to the Van Dusens that it is not the Civil engineers
responsibility to pull permits for tree removal. The Van Dusens explained their side of the
story to the board and explained they were not ready for any action to be taken. The board
and Rick Carper discussed the issue further and what needed to be done to resolve the
issue. Erika Hall gave Van Dusens a spreadsheet of the trees from the original survey that
were still found on the lots, as well as the trees that had been removed. Ms. Hall explained
that existing trees can be designated as protected, as mitigation for those that have been
removed, and gave examples of how this would work. Erika Hall also stated to Rick Carper
that there is a well that needs to be capped on property and Mr. Carper agreed and asked the
Van Dusens' to take care of the well issue.
Motion of the Board: Jim made a motion that the Van Dusens work with Erika Hall on this
issue of tree mitigation and that the Van Dusens' will come back to continue discussion in
terms of mitigation and will meet on June 13, 2007.
a. 1680 Jordan Street (Doctor) T'he Board recognized that this case will be heard before the
City of Commission on Monday 5-14-07 and that Rick Carper will be there to give brief
summary to Commission.
s. 400/500/334/574 Stocks Street (R/E Home Investors) Erika Hall stated to board that there
were letters sent out by her and Rick and neither have yet to receive a returned receipt from
owner. The board proposed that the letter be posted and photographed on the property door
as described by Code Enforcement Officer Alex Sherrer.
IV. REPORTSANDANNOUNCEMENTS
a. Permit Application
1. The Board discussed the new application form that Erika provided. The Board suggested that
applicants remove section approval on first form due to possible misinterpretation. Ms. Hall
handed out another pamphlet defining setbacks and right of way. The board reviewed the
pamphlet and suggested to Erika Hall that the definition of right of way is in need of a clearer
explanation and will need to be revised.
V. ADJOURNMENT
Motion of the Board: Jim McCue made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8: SS pm; Carol
Varney seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
Maureen Shaughnessy C rperson,
Atlantic Beach Tree Conservation Board
Date Signed
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