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05-21-00 v I • AGENDA REGULAR MEETING OF TREE CONSERVATION BOARD May 21, 2001 7:30 p.m. City Hall Commission Chambers 1. Call to Order 2. Recognition of Visitors 3. Approval of Minutes of Meeting of May 7, 2001 4. Old Business A. Tree Removal Applications 1) None 5. New Business A. Tree Removal Applications S i) 349 11th Street 2) The West 110' of Lot 71A,N. Atlantic Beach, Unit#3-R-C-B-S 3) 265 3`d Street 4) Church Road Extension 6. Reports and Announcements 7. Adjournment • If any person decides to appeal any decision made by the Tree Conservation Board at the above meeting, he will need a record of the proceedings, and for such purpose, may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, which record shall include the testimony of evidence upon which appeal is to be based. • MINUTES OF TREE CONSERVATION BOARD May 21, 2001 A regular meeting of the Tree Conservation Board was held Monday, May 21, 2001, in the City Hall Commission Chambers. Present were Chairperson Mae Jones, Richard Bell, Barbara Mears, Judith Jacobson, Building Official Don Ford and Susan Dunham. 1. Call to Order Chairperson Jones called the meeting to order at 7:35 p.m. 2. Recognition of Visitors None. 3. Approval of Minutes of Meeting of May 7, 2001 A motion was made by Board Member Jacobson, seconded by Board Member Mears and unanimously carried to approve the Minutes of the Tree Conservation Board Meeting of May 7, 2001. 4.A. Old Business/Tree Removal Applications None. 5.A. New Business/Tree Removal Applications: 1) 349 1lth Street: Mr. Peter Rodrigues introduced himself. Mr. Rodrigues stated that he submitted a • request for a building permit for renovation of his home that included a tree survey with trees marked for removal. He explained that upon receipt of the building permit, he proceeded to remove trees and was subsequently given a"Stop Work"order and advised of the correct procedures to follow by Building Official Ford. Mr. Rodrigues distributed a survey to the Board members highlighting the trees that were removed,the trees remaining and the trees that he anticipates planting. He further stated that he plans to plant five 6"to 8"palms and two 4"oaks. Building Official Ford advised that the building permit was issued in error so the job in progress was stopped. He also advised that a professional tree survey was performed on this property prior to any trees being removed, which is attached as part of this application. Board Member Bell asked if this applicant should be charged inch for inch. Building Official Ford responded that the applicant should be charged inch for inch since it is his responsibility as a contractor to know the City's rules and regulations. Mr. Rodrigues advised that the 27"pine tree that was removed was forked and split. The Board determined that the applicant was removing 45"of palm, 10"of oak and 27"of hardwood. Board Member Bell suggested that the applicant have Big Ben write a letter stating the condition of the 27"pine tree that was removed. The Board requested that Building Official Ford handle this issue administratively. A motion was made by Board Member Bell, seconded by Board Member Mears and unanimously carried to approve the application and to direct Building Official Ford to issue a permit for the removal of 45" of palm and 10" of oak to be mitigated with the planting of two 5" oaks on site, • preserving a 16" palm on site and to plant five 6" to 8" palms on site, and that the applicant submit a letter from a tree service to the Building Official stating that the 27" pine was split. Minutes of Tree Conservation Board May 21, 2001 Page 2 • 2) The West 110' of Lot 71A, N. Atlantic Beach, Unit#3-R-C-B-S: Mr. Rodney Courtney introduced himself to the Board. Mr. Courtney advised that he would like to remove trees and plant back the same number of inches removed. Board Members Mears and Bell stated that they were unable to locate the trees marked on the survey. Board Member Jacobson stated that the 7"live oak in the right hand driveway is actually a triple trunk tree with a diameter measuring 25.95". Board Member Mears advised that the survey did not show all the trees on the lot. Board Member Bell stated that he did not find good correlation with sizing and location of trees. Mr. Courtney responded that his intention is to plant the same number of inches removed. Board Member Bell responded that he understood that this is what Mr. Courtney wanted to do but the only documentation the Board has is the survey and they use the survey to determine how much mitigation is required. In addition, Board Member Bell advised that Building Official Ford also uses the survey to determine that no additional trees are removed. Board Member Bell further stated that he could not locate the trees as they were drawn on the survey. Mr. Courtney advised that he transferred the information from the Boatwright survey to the survey he included in the packet to assist the Board members. At the request of Chairperson Jones, Mr. Courtney distributed the original Boatwright survey to the Board members. Chairperson Jones asked Mr. Courtney if he was going to have to level the lot to remove the small dune in the middle. Mr. Courtney responded, yes. Chairperson Jones advised Mr. Courtney that leveling the lot would have an impact on the trees. The Board reviewed the Boatwright survey. Board Member Jacobson stated that she was comfortable • with the trees she measured and that there were not many trees to dispute for mitigation purposes. Board Member Bell stated that the trees he measured were not accurate on the survey. After further discussion, Board Member Mears stated that the Board could not determine the location and size of trees and would request that the applicant return with an enlarged Boatwright survey, including the setback lines and tree markings. Chairperson Jones advised the applicant that he must add the 4"trees to the survey that he plans to use for mitigation. Mr. Courtney stated that everything on the Boatwright survey is located on the lot. Chairperson Jones responded that the issue is that the Board could not verify the locations and diameters of trees on the survey. A motion was made by Board Member Bell that the applicant submits a more accurate survey. Board Member Mears seconded the motion which passed by unanimous vote. Mr. Courtney requested exact directions with regard to what he should do next. Chairperson Jones responded that he should enlarge the Boatwright survey and follow the directions outlined in the application. She further advised that if he had any further questions, he should contact Building Official Ford. Mr. Courtney stated that he followed the directions when he prepared his survey so he did not understand why the Board had trouble with it. Board Member Bell advised Mr. Courtney that he distorted the spatial relationship between the trees so when the Board members went to the site to verify the placement of trees,they could not locate them. 3) 265 3rd Street: The applicant was not present to address the application. After discussion,the Board determined that the applicant is removing seven palms totaling 109.47," requiring 55"of mitigation. Board Member Mears stated that the construction of this home shows a complete disregard for the site. • Minutes of Tree Conservation Board May 21, 2001 Page 3 • A motion was made by Board Member Jacobson, seconded by Board Member Mears and unanimously carried to approve the application and to direct Building Official Ford to issue a permit for the removal of 109.47" of palm to be mitigated by 55" of new palm to be planted on site with the additional recommendation that the applicant give serious consideration to reconfiguring the structure in order to save the unusual cluster of palms at the back of the lot. 4) Church Road Extension: Building Official Ford stated that the Board's capacity is an advisory capacity only with regard to city rights-of-ways and city-owned property. He further stated that when a developer or a consulting engineer designs a project for the City, he requests that they submit the plans for the Board's review and proposed mitigation. Discussion was held with regard to the Tallow Trees. Chairperson Jones stated that she would like to see the Tallow Trees removed. The Board recommended that 4"or greater oaks be planted on the north side of the road from Mealy Lane to Main Street and on the south side from Mary Street to Main Street. Building Official Ford stated he would forward the recommendation. 6. Reports and Announcements Chairperson Jones stated that she was sorry that Mr. Courtney of west 110' of Lot 71A, N. Atlantic Beach, Unit#3-R-C-B-S was so angry because she feels the Board did the best they could. Building Official Ford stated that it was a very difficult lot and he had met with the applicant three times. • Chairperson Jones also stated that nothing further was to be gained by continuing the discussion. Board Member Bell added that the applicant's drawn survey did not correlate with the Boatwright survey except the number of trees. Board Member Mears advised that reflectors had been nailed to the palm trees in front of Adele Grage Community Center. She requested placing collars around the trees so that no further damage could be done to them. Board Member Bell informed the Board that in Town Center all the palm trees had been severely trimmed which is detrimental to the trees. 7. Adjournment: There being no other business or discussi•n, the meeting was adjourned at 9:05 p.m. ell c!la.rd Bell, Secre! I •