Item 6AAGENDA ITEM:
SUBM lTTED BY:
DATE:
BACKGROUND:
C ITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH
CITY COMMISSION MEETI NG
STAFI~' REPORT
Resolution 15-01 Heritage Tree Designation (391 8111 Street)
Jeremy Hub sc h ~u"h C} ~
Building and Zo ning Director
December !9, 2014
AGEN DA ITRM 1/6/\
J ANUA RY 12,2015
The owne rs of 39 1 8'" St reet are seeking to nominate an oak tree on their property as a l leritage Tree.
They have a Live Oak that is approximately 31 in ches in diameter in th eir front yard. An arbo ris t has told
them it is app roximately 100 yea rs o ld (sec letter, exh ibit 1). Accord ing to Sec tio n 23-4 1 (a) "The City
Co mmis sio n may by resolutio n des igna te ind ividua l heri tage trees." A I lerit age Tree designation does not
preven t a tree from ever being removed , but it does make it more difficu lt and costl y to remove . Protected
trees have to be mitig ated at a ralc of o ne inch fo r every two inche s removed. A Heti tage Tree has to be
mitigated at a rate of one inch for every inch removed .
According to the Atl an ti c Beach Tree Code definitions, Heritage Trees are "any tree determined by the
Ci ty Com mission to be of unique or intrinsic value due to it s age, size, species, and /o r cultural, eco logical
or historica l signilica nec or some other contribu ti on to the city 's cha racter, specilically includ ing all
Cyp ress, Live Oak, and Magno lia tre es w ith d iamete r 30 in ches or grea ter''. Howeve r, that is specifica lly
for trees o n city owned property (ri ght-of-way and parks). "On private prope rt y, Heritage Trees are
vo lunta ri ly nom inated by the property owner." This is the fir st tree on private property to ever be
nom inated as a Heritage Tree in Atlant ic Beac h.
BUDGET: No ne.
RECOMMENDATION: Approve Resol ution 15-01 to designate 1'110 3 1 inch diamete r Live Oak
tree at 391 8'" Stree t as Heritage Tree.
ATTACHMENTS :
nomina ti on; Resol ution 15-01
Written request from property owner; photos of the Live Oak tree up for
REVIEWED BY CITY MANAGER:
,_
RESOLUTION NO. 15-01
AGENDA ITEM# 6A
JANUARY 12, 2015
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH, FLORIDA,
DESIGNATING THE 31 INCH DIAMETER LIVE OAK TREE AT 391 gTH
STREET AS A HERITAGE TREE.
WHEREAS, the City Commission of the City of Atlantic Beach, Florida wishes to be a
good steward of its tree canopy, and in particular specimens of physical and historical
significance; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission of the City of Atlantic Beach, Florida has the ability
to designate individual trees as Heritage Trees according to Section 23-41 (a) of the Atlantic
Beach Code of Ordinances; and
WHEREAS, the Live Oak tree at 391 8th Street located in the front yard and nominated
by the property owner is 31 inches in diameter and approximately 100 years old; and
WHEREAS, Heritage Tree designation runs with the property and strengthens the
mitigation ratio if the tree is ever removed. The current mitigation ratio for Heritage Trees is 1:1
on private property compared to 1:2 for protected trees.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH, FLORIDA THAT:
The 31 inch Live Oak tree at 391 gth Street is hereby designated as a "Heritage Tree".
This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon its final passage and adoption.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this ___ day of ____ , 2015.
Approved as to form and correctness:
Rich Komando
City Attorney
ATTEST:
Donna Bartle, CMC
City Clerk
Carolyn Woods
Mayor
City of Atlantic Beach
800 Seminole Road
Atlantic Beach, FL 32233
Dear City of Atlantic Beach,
AGENDA ITEM# 6A
JANUARY 12, 2015
We proudly ask that you designate the Southern Live Oak on our property at 391 gth Street a Heritage
Tree. We hope that it will become the first of many Heritage Trees in Atlantic Beach and that our city
can one day rival Portland, Oregon, which is currently home to some 300 Heritage Trees.
According to a certified arborist, our oak is approximately 100 years old and can easily grow to be
hundreds more. This tree is part of a grove of Southern Live Oaks that intertwine to form a shady
canopy and entrance to gth Street from Sherry Drive.
Southern Live Oaks, once plentiful in Atlantic Beach, are becoming increasingly rare as gentrification
changes our city's landscape. If cut down, this tree would be irreplaceable. We ask that you protect our
Southern Live Oak by designating it a Heritage Tree.
Thank you,
Sincerely,
G()ku'
Marisa Carbone and John Finotti
Homeowners, 39181h Street, Atlantic Beach, FL 32233
AGENDA ITEM# 6A
J ANUARY 12,20 15
AGENDA ITEM# 6A
JANUARY 12,2015