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City of Atlantic Beach Tree Conservation Board
Regular Meeting Minutes
April 9, 2008
A regular meeting of the City of Atlantic Tree Conservation Board was convened at 7:00 pm on
Wednesday April 9, 2008 at the Adele Grage Cultural Center, West Meeting Room, located at 716
Ocean Boulevard in Atlantic Beach. In attendance were Board Members Stephanie Catania, Jim
McCue, Brea Paul, Carole Varney and Staff Planner/7P0 Administrator Erika Hall. Maureen
Shaughnessy was absent from the meeting. The position of Recording Secretary was vacant.
1. CALL TO ORDER
■ Acting Chair Jim McCue called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm.
2. RECOGNITION OF VISITORS
• Mr. McCue recognized the presence of applicants Michael Altenbach,
Richard and Brenda Raab, and Deputy Public Works Director Tim Gilboy.
Also present in the audience were Bonnie and Kirk Hansen. Mr. Hansen is
a member of the Community Development Board.
3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
MOTION: Brea Paul moved to adopt the minutes of the March 26,
2008 regular meeting, as written. Carole Varney offered a
second, and with no further discussion, the vote was unanimous.
4. OLD BUSINESS
a. TREE 08-00100011
1730 Ocean Grove Drive
Altenbach for Dixon / residential redevelopment
Michael Altenbach appeared before the board as representative of this
application, review of which was deferred at the March 26, 2008
meeting, pending correction of the application. As the board reviewed
the resubmitted survey, Ms. Hall explained that she had emailed Mr.
Altenbach the board's requests, and that he had revised and
resubmitted the mitigation worksheet and the tree survey per those
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Minutes of the April 9, 2008 Regular Meeting of the Tree Conservation Board
requests. Mr. McCue, referring to the tree survey, asked about the
"orange line" versus the yellow area. Ms. Hall replied that the orange
line was the building setback line, as shown on the original submittal,
while the yellow shaded area represented the correct placement of the
exterior zone. Mr. McCue asked were the two not the same? Or did
Mr. Altenbach have a zoning variance. Ms. Hall replied, no, they were
not the same; rather the side yard setbacks for that zoning district
(RG-1) are a combined 15', with a minimum of 5' on either side. Mr.
McCue asked if the mitigation worksheet had been updated and was
complete. Mr. Altenbach confirmed that it was. Stephanie Catania
noted that none of the interior trees proposed for removal were
protected, thus mitigation would only be required for those in the
exterior zone. Ms. Hall pointed out that the trees along the 17th Street
ROW were to remain, and would be barricaded during construction.
MOTION: Stephanie Catania made a motion regarding
TREE 08-00100011 (1730 Ocean Grove Drive) to approve
removal of 1-12" Palm; 1-7" Bay; 1-4", 2-6", and 1-9"
Magnolia; 2-9", 1-10", 2-11", 1-12" and 1-13" Oak, for a
total of 119", from the interior zone, with no mitigation
required; and, from the exterior zone, 1-9" Bay; 2-10", 1-
12" and 1-14" Oak, for a total of 55", to be mitigated on-
site with 27.5" of hardwoods of the property owners'
choice. Carole Varney seconded the motion, and without
further discussion it passed unanimously.
b. TREE 08-00100012 (previous permit 06-00032880)
2391 Ocean Breeze Court
(Raab / residential development)
Mr. Richard Raab and Mrs. Brenda Raab, owners of the property
located at 2391 Ocean Breeze Court were present to address the
board, as were their neighbors to the north, Kirk and Bonnie Hansen,
2393 Ocean Breeze Court. Ms. Hall reported that the Building
Department had received notice that a number of Palms had been
removed from this site, beyond the Coastal Construction Control Line
(CCCL) and possibly in conjunction with the construction of a dune
crossover, and this information was forwarded to her on April 2, 2008.
She found that an application had been received / approved and a
permit issued for the removal of trees in/near the proposed building
footprint. However, trees beyond the CCCL were not permitted for
removal, and were in fact listed "to remain" in the Special Notes and
Comments section of the permit. Ms. Hall said that she contacted
Public Works Director Rick Carper to find out if he knew anything
about the additional tree removals. In turn, he contacted Florida
Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) field agent Trey
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Minutes of the April 9, 2008 Regular Meeting of the Tree Conservation Board
Hatch, and found that he had given verbal permission to trim the
vegetation (including Palms) but that he had not issued a field permit
for tree removal. Ms. Hall said that over the next few days, she had
further communication with Mr. Hatch as well as FDEP CCCL Permit
Manager Valerie Jones, who explained that FDEP department does
"permit removal and new planting of vegetation as part of the
permitting process for most structures. The applicant is required to
submit a survey depicting existing vegetation, and if planting is
proposed, they submit planting/landscape plans which should depict
existing plants, plants to be removed, and proposed plants. We assess
these plans and often require revisions to avoid or minimize impacts to
native vegetation...we do allow removal of vegetation, but the rule
says it cannot destabilize a dune or cause significant adverse impacts."
As Ms. Hall disbursed copies of her emails from Ms. Jones, and notes
from her phone conversation with Mr. Hatch, she explained that this
item was brought to the board in order to determine if the Palms that
had been located seaward of the CCCL and recently removed were
considered to be protected, and in turn, if their removal constitute a
violation. As the board reviewed the original tree removal application
and permit issued in 2006, and the photos taken by Code Enforcement
Officer Alex Sherrer, Ms. Hall continued with information she obtained
from FDEP. According to Mr. Hatch, Palms are generally considered to
be nuisances in the dune system. However, when they are removed,
the root ball must remain in order to hold the dune together until new
vegetation is successfully established. Mr. Hatch also told Ms. Hall that
he had obtained permission from his supervisors to issue a field permit
for the removal of some Palms in conjunction with another project that
he had discussed with the property owner, but he had not received an
application for that project and thus had not issued the field permit.
Mr. Raab stated that it was his understanding that he had adequate
permission from FDEP to cut down the trees so long as he did not
remove the root balls. He said that it was his intent to enhance the
view, and trees had been cut in a staggered manner so as to not
endanger the stability of the dune system. Additionally, he said that
he had been advised by Trey Hatch as to the appropriate plants for
replanting the area. He said that his landscape architect was working
on a plan, but due to a miscommunication of meeting date, he was
unable to produce it for tonight's meeting. Mr. Raab handed out
additional photos of the remaining vegetation on the dune, and
explained that there were a number of trees not shown on the survey
provided to the board. Mr. McCue asked why they had not been
shown on the original survey (which Ms. Hall had used to show the
location of the recently removed Palms), and why Mr. Richard
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Minutes of the April 9, 2008 Regular Meeting of the Tree Conservation Board
Thompson, the Raabs' contractor and original applicant for the 2006
tree removal permit, was not in attendance. Ms. Hall said that she had
sent a certified letter to Mr. Thompson since he was the original
applicant, but that she had not received response from him. However,
Mr. Carper had forwarded all the information provided by Ms. Hall to
Mr. Thompson via email, and he in turn, had forwarded it all to Mr.
Raab. Mr. McCue asked if Mr. Raab had coordinated with Mr.
Thompson regarding the removal of the additional Palms. Mr. Raab
said that he had conferred with the Nansens who live on the lot
located just north of his property. The Hansens confirmed that they
were in support of the Raab's plan to clean up the area and replant
with grasses and other coastal vegetation as recommended by Mr.
Hatch. Upon further review of the 2006 application, Carole Varney and
Stephanie Catania did not find that the Palms were designated as
protected in lieu of mitigation. However, they found several
inconsistencies amongst the various documents of the 2006 application
that prevented them from knowing with absolute certainty what
remained on the property prior to the most recent tree removals.
MOTION: Carole Varney made a motion that the Tree
Conservation Board defer further consideration of the
removal of Palms seaward of the CCCL, from the property
located at 2391 Ocean Breeze Court, pending the submittal
by the property owner, of a new tree survey, showing the
size, location and species of all trees remaining, as well as
all those that were removed from the vicinity of the dune.
Stephanie Catania seconded the motion. Mrs. Raab asked
for confirmation as to who was to provide the new survey
and Mr. McCue said that they (the owners/applicants)
were responsible. Mr. Raab asked if Ms. Hall could send a
copy of the original survey for him to work off of and he
supplied his email address. With no further discussion, the
board voted unanimously in support of the motion.
5. NEW BUSINESS
a. TREE 08-00100013
1701 Francis Avenue
City of Atlantic Beach / Jordan Park maintenance, removal of
invasive species
Tim Gilboy, Deputy Director of Public Works, appeared before the
board to share with them the plan for Jordan Park maintenance which
includes the removal of invasive Chinaberry and Tallow Trees, and
replanting with Oaks. Mr. McCue asked why an application did not
accompany the diagram that was submitted, and Ms. Hall reminded
the board that the City is not required to apply for or obtain a tree
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Minutes of the April 9, 2008 Regular Meeting of the Tree Conservation Board
removal permit for such maintenance and improvement programs.
However, Public Works wanted the board to be aware of their
continuing efforts to remove invasive species and improve public
properties. Ms. Hall also noted that she does keep files on such
projects, and records them in the development review / permitting
system. No action was required by the board, so no motion was
made.
6. REPORTS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & ITEMS NOT REQUIRING ACTION
a. Technical Guidelines: Discussion of"Right Tree, Right Place"
principles, development of list of preferred species suitable to
site parameters.
Ms. Hall explained that this was a topic she had previously proposed to
in conjunction with the development of Technical Guidelines. Mr.
Carper asked if the Tree Board could go ahead and work on this so
that this information could be provided to applicants to the Adopt-a-
Tree Program and the public in general. Mr. McCue proposed that this
discussion be rescheduled for a time when all board members were
present and could fully participate. The remainder of the board
agreed.
7. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION: Carole Varney moved to adjourn, Stephanie Catania
offered a second, and the meeting was adjourned by Acting Chair
Jim McCue at 7:55 pm.
. g5/66
SI D:Jim McCue,Acting Chair D e
ATTEST rE iha Hall, Staff Planner/TPO Administrator
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