12-10-92 v MINUTES OF THE JOINT W)RKSHOP MEETING OF THE CITY COMMIISSION AND 'rxr:E
PRESERVATION BOARD HELD IN CITY HALL, 800 SEMINOLE ROAD, AT 7:00 PM ON
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1992
PRESENT:
City Commission: William I. Gulliford, Jr. , Mayor
Lyman T. Fletcher
Adelaide R. Tucker
J. Dezmond Waters, III
Tree Conservation Board: Carolyn Woods, Chairman
Thomas Frohne
Hope VanNortwick
John Weldon, Jr.
And: Kim D. Leinbach, City Manager
Maureen King, City Clerk
Mayor Gulliford called the meeting to order and explained his personal
opinion on the proposed ordinance. He felt that while it was generally
agreed that trees added to the quality of life and beauty of Atlantic
Beach, it was not possible to legislate beauty. In his opinion, the
ordinance needed to be specific so that a developer or home owner would
know exactly what would be required of them before they cut down any
trees. He also felt the purpose of the ordinance needed to be defined.
Commissioner Waters felt the clear cutting which had taken place in the
city in the past had necessitated the adoption of legislation to prevent
similar occurrences in the future.
Hope VanNortwick felt the goal of the ordinance should be to maintain a
mature tree canopy in such a way as to have it dispersed throughout the
city. Kenneth Scudder, Eleventh Street resident, said Tallahassee had
an excellent tree ordinance which was designed to protect trees and also
encourage people to plant trees. The City Manager agreed to get a copy
of the Tallahassee ordinance.
Carolyn Woods felt it was important to educate the citizenry to the
value and importance of trees to the community at large. She reported
the board had experienced some success in that area with developers.
John Weldon, Jr. , felt one of the main areas of disagreement between the
Tree Board and the City Commission was the inclusion of private property
in the ordinance and, as a compromise, he recommended requiring permits
for removal of trees within setback areas but not requiring permits for
tree removal on any other part of private property unless a building
permit was requested.
Following further discussion, the following were identified as areas
which needed to be addressed:
Page Two
Minutes of Joint Workshop Meeting of City Commission and Tree Board
December 10, 1992
1. Control of setback areas
2. Tree permit with all construction
3. No restrictions on homesteaded property, except possibly
setbacks
4. Cataloging and protection of specimen trees
5. Replacement with 1/3 the diameter of trees removed
6. Retention of trees as credit to replacement requirement
7. Encouragement of tree planting
The Mayor inquired into what options were available to developers or
homeowners who wished to remove trees and the following options were
identified:
1. Replace at a ratio of 1" to each 3" diameter of trees removed
2. Replace at a ratio of 1" to each 3" diameter of trees removed
at another suitable location in the city
3. Credit for remaining trees on property
4. Make payment into tree fund to be used to assist with a
planting program
5. Waive requirements
Mr. Weldon reminded the City Commission that because of the individual
nature of the requests presented to the Tree Board, it would always be
necessary for the board to make subjective decisions. The Mayor also
felt the powers of the designee should be further clarified and that
"specimen trees" referred to in #4 above, also needed to be identified.
Commissioner Fletcher requested that the ordinance be rewritten to
incorporate the changes which had been discussed and it was agreed to
try to have the rewritten ordinance ready for introduction at the first
meeting in January 1993.
The Mayor thanked the members of the Tree Board and other volunteers who
gave so freely of their time and talents for the benefit of the city.
In other business a collective bargaining executive session was
scheduled for 6:30 PM on Monday, December 14, 1992, prior to the regular
meeting of the City Commission.
There being no further discussion, the Mayor declared the meeting
adjourned at 9:40 PM.
Maureen King, Cit Cler