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10-22-03 vAGENDA REGULAR MEETING OF TREE CONSERVATION BOARD October 22, 2003 7:00 p.m. Adele Grage Cultural Center 1. Call to Order 2. Recognition of Visitors 3. Introduction of New Members 4. Election of Officers 5. Approval of Minutes of Meeting of October 8, 2003 6. Old Business None. 7. New Business A. Tree Removal Applications: 1. 160 Magnolia 2. Lot 1, Block 77, Section H (West 4'~ Street) 3. Lot 2, Block 77, Section H (West 4`~ Street) 4. 1729 Ocean Grove Drive 5. Lot 6, Block 203, Section H (Jasmine Street) B. Report to City Commission 8. Reports and Announcements 9. Adjournment All information related to these applications and full legal descriptions for the subject properties are available for review at the City of Atlantic Beach Building Department located at 800 Seminole Road, Atlantic Beach, Florida. If any person decides to appeal any decision made by the Tree Conservation Board with respect to any matter considered at the above meeting, he or she 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 includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is based. Notice to persons needing special accommodations and to all hearing impaired persons: In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, persons needing special accommodation to participate in this proceeding should contact the City of Atlantic Beach (904) 247-5$00, 800 Seminole Road, Atlantic Beach, Florida 32233 not later than five days prior to the date of this meeting. MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE TREE CONSERVATION BOARD October 22, 2003 A regular meeting of the Tree Conservation Board was held Wednesday, October 22, 2003, at the Adele Grage Cultural Center. Present were Charles Carroll (arrived at 7:20 p.m.), Bill Permenter, Maureen Shaughnessy, Building Official Don Ford and Susan Dunham. 1. Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 7:15 p.m. 2. Recognition of Visitors Tvlr. Rusty Pritchett introduced himself. He stated that he would be submitting a Tree Removal Application for removal of four trees in the interior zone: three cabbage palms less than 20" and a 28" to 30" magnolia tree. Mr. Pritchett asked what types of trees he could plant to mitigate for the protected magnolia tree. Board Member Shaughnessy advised Mr. Pritchett that he could plant any type of hardwood tree shown on the list of recommended trees attached to the application form. 3. Introduction of New Members New members were not present. 4. Election of Officers This item was deferred to the next meeting. 5. Approval of Minutes of Meetings of October 8, 2003 A motion was made by Board Member Permenter, seconded by Board Member Carroll, and unanimously carried to approve the Minutes of October 8, 2003. 6. Old Business None. 7. New Business A. Tree Removal Applications 1. 160 Magnolia: Mr. Frank Pasko introduced himself. Building Official Ford stated that the applicant was removing an 8.5" oak and a 6.5" oak and protecting a 7.5" oak in the interior zone for mitigation. A motion was made by Board Member Permenter, seconded by Board Member Carroll, and unanimously carried to direct the Building Official to issue a permit for the removal of an 8.5" oak and a 6.5" oak to be mitigated on site with a 7.5" oak in the interior zone. 2. Lot 1, Block 77, Section H (West 4`h Street): Mr. Larry Smallwood introduced himself. Building Official Ford advised that the applicant was removing a 12.73" oak that required mitigation. He further advised that tree No. 5 was a 5.41" oak that could be used for mitigation. Mr. Smallwood informed the board that he thought tree No. 13 was a 3" oak tree which could be used for mitigation. Building Offcial Ford stated that he would verify the size of this oak tree. A motion was made by Board Member Permenter, seconded by Board Member Carroll, and unanimously carried to direct the Building Official to issue a permit for the removal of one 12.73" oak to be mitigated on site with a 3" oak and a 5.41" oak Minutes of Tree Conservation Board October 22, 2003 Page 2 3. Lot 2, Block 77, Section H (West 4`h Street): Building Official Ford advised that the pine tree in the interior zone measured 18.47" and required no mitigation. A motion was made by Board Member Pcrmcntcr, seconded by Board Member Carroll, and unanimously carried to direct the Building Official to issue a permit for the removal of an 18.5" pine in the interior zone with no mitigation required. 4. 1729 Ocean Grove Drive: Building Official Ford advised that the 10" oak in the interior zone required no mitigation. A motion was made by Board Member Carroll, seconded by Board Member Pcrmcntcr, and unanimously carried to direct the Building Official to issue a permit for the removal ofa 10.19" oak with no mitigation required. 5. Lot 6, Block 203, Section H (Jasmine Street): Mr. Paul Finley of Beaches Habitat introduced himself. He pointed out to the board that he inadvertently omitted a 16" cabbage palm marked as tree "I" that he would like to remove. He also pointed out that trees "B," "G" and "H" were not located on the property. Mr. Finley explained that the soil on the property was contaminated and the Department of Environmental Protection was requiring them to cap the lot to prevent leaching of the contaminants. He stated that in order to accomplish this, they needed to remove all the trees to install an impervious membrane two feet down. Board Member Shaughnessy advised trees "C," "D" and "E" were dead. Building Official Ford stated that one hardwood tree and two cabbage palms (trees "F," "A" and "I") to be removed were protected and required mitigation. Mr. Finley advised that Beaches Habitat owned the lot next to this site and asked if they could plant the mitigation trees at this location. Building Official Ford reminded board members that they have allowed off-site mitigation in the past. A motion was made by Board Member Pcrmcntcr, seconded by Board Member Carroll, and unanimously carried to direct the Building Official to issue a permit for the removal of 32" of palm and 10" of hardwood to be mitigated off-site with 16" of palm and 5" of hardwood and/or by payment into the Tree Fund at $117 per inch. Mr. Finley asked if they could plant the mitigation trees in Francis Cove III. Discussion was held and the board determined that this would be permitted. Building Official Ford clarified that these would be new trees planted at Francis Cove III and did not mean that Beaches Habitat could use trees that were already on this site for mitigation. B. Report to City Commission: Building Official Ford advised that he prepared a summary of the board's activities which he would bring to the next Tree Conservation Board meeting. Board Member Shaughnessy reminded board members that the meeting schedule for November had been changed from November 12 and 26 to November 5 and 19 due to the Thanksgiving holiday. 8. Reports and Announcements Board Member Shaughnessy advised that she ordered "A Handbook for Tree Board Members" from the National Arbor Day Foundation which she thought would be helpful to board members. Building Official Ford stated that he would give a short orientation session to the new board members prior to the next meeting. Minutes of Tree Conservation Board October 22, 2003 Page 3 Board Member Permenter expressed concern with regard to publicity and information being attributed to the Tree Conservation Board as a whole when, in fact, it was one person who was quoted. Building Official Ford stated that he spoke with two scout troops about locating exceptionally large trees in Atlantic Beach but neither group was interested in this project. Board Member Permenter advised that he would be very interested in reworking the Tree Removal Application again. Building Official Ford suggested adding this item to the agenda for the next meeting. Building Official Ford advised that there were two applicants this evening who required no mitigation. He stated that it was his opinion that these types of situations should not be held to the current process and would like the board to give him the authority to allow people to remove two, three or four trees when no mitigation was required. He further stated that he would still add these to the agenda but the applicant would not be required to attend the meeting. Building Official Ford stated that this would require a change to the ordinance and would like each board member think about this. Board Member Permenter responded that he did not have a problem with this change as long as the board set the parameters. 9. Adjournment There being no other business or discussion, the meeting was adjourned at 8:00 p.m.