12-02-97 Tree Conservation Board Meeting MinutesTREE CONSERVATION BOARD
Minutes of December 2, 1996
The Board held its regular meeting on Monday, December 2, in
the City Commission Chambers. Present were:
Rick Beaver Judy Jacobson
Mae Jones Rick Bell
Staff: George Worley, Designee Carl Walker, Coordinator
Rick Beaver, in the absence of Hope Van Nortwick, called the
meeting to order at 7:40 PM.
The only application on the agenda for tree removal was for
portions of Lot # 4 & # 5, Block # 76, Sec. H. No represen-
tative of the builder, Pulte Home Corporation/No. Florida
Classic Homes, was present.
Board members who had visited the property stated that the
lot had already been clear-cut with only three trees remain-
ing on the lot although those trees were not marked or flag-
ged in any way. From the plans, there was also a question
whether or not a 10" pine in the building plan was protected
due to its location on the property. That tree has been re-
moved and as a result, the correct mitigation replacement re-
quirement could not be determined.
Mae Jones moved to deny the application as the lot has been
clear-cut and that the violation should be referred to the
Code Enforcement Board for their action. Rick Bell seconded
and the motion passed by a unanimous vote.
The Board also made note that this was a repetitive prob-
lem with this particular builder and they had been warned
on several occasions that future tree removal without per-
mitting would result in this action. George Worley will han-
dle the issuance of a stop -work order on the lot and also
refer the incident to Code Enforcement.
Although they were not on the agenda, Mr. Richard Thompson,
contractor, and Mr. Rausch, the property owner/applicant for
Lot # 307, Saltair Subdivision, Sec. # 3, were present to
ask reconsideration by the Board for action taken at the
June 17 Board meeting. At that meeting, the Board approved
the application with the provision that 57.5" DBH of hard-
wood trees, 4" DBH of which must be oak.
George reported that he went by the completed construction
site for a final inspection prior to issuing a Certificate of
Occupancy and found that the only replacement trees were
3 - 1" oak trees for a total of 3" DBH. The builder and Mr.
Rausch contend there is not sufficient room on the lot for
the required replacement trees. Additionally, they noted that
all of the trees originally proposed for removal were not
taken out due to a change in the positioning of the driveway.
It was also expressed by Mr. Rausch that payment into the
tree fund in lieu of replacement of trees, the option allowed
by the ordinance, was too costly.
Mr. Rausch requested relief from the mitigation requirement
until such time as a revised plan be submitted to the Board
but that the C.O. be issued immediately so that he could
occupy the residence. He also stated that he had met with
the City Manager who was willing to allow for monies into
the tree fund be extended to a payment plan over a specified
period of time.
Several options were discussed by the Board and each was.ex-
plained to the applicant. It was also agreed by the Board
members that time did not allow for a special meeting to be
called and the earliest that the matter could be reconsidered
would be at the next regular meeting date of December 16.
The Board explained in detail that they could not promise any
reduction to the original mitigation requirement and that
only consideration could be given for trees which were in-
cluded in the original plan for removal but which were saved.
The condition of a pine tree which the applicant claimed was
dead could not be determined since it was already removed.
In the meantime, Mr. Rausch can handle the matter of the C.O.
with the City Manager and a payment plan be executed for re-
placement trees based on the original requirement until such
time as the Board had a chance to visit the site and consider
a change in the mitigation. All parties were agreeable to
this arrangement.
In other business, the Board discussed briefly the proposed
lake in Johansen Park and the effect it would have on the re-
moval of trees. Staff assured that the application would be
heard by the Board in the usual manner.
Rick Beaver reported that he had attended the recent Commun-
ity Board meeting and was satisfied with the landscape plan
provided by Kent Theaters for the remodeled Atlantic Theater.
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Judy Jacobson moved to approve the minutes of the last meet-
ing, as read. Mae Jones seconded and the motion carried by
a unanimous vote.
With no further business, the meeting adjourned at 9:35 PM.
P
,�' Richard Beaver
Secretary
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