1911 Sherry Drive North (Heritage Tree) FINALResolution No. 21-10
A resolution designating at 51-inch diameter live
oak and a 43-inch diameter live oak at 1911
North Sherry Drive.
Heritage Tree Designation
•The owner of 1911
North Sherry Drive is
seeking to nominate
two oak trees on
their property as a
Heritage Trees.
•Both trees are in the
front yard and visible
from the street
Heritage Tree Designation
Tree A
•Tree A is a Live Oak and
is 51 inches in diameter
in their front yard. The
owner estimates the
tree to be
approximately 204
years old.
Heritage Tree Designation
Tree B
•Tree B is a Live Oak and
is 43 inches in diameter
in their front yard. The
owner estimates the
tree to be
approximately 172
years old.
Heritage Tree Designation
•According to the Atlantic Beach Tree Code definitions,
Heritage Trees are “any tree determined by the City
Commission to be of unique or intrinsic value due to its
age, size, species, and/or cultural, ecological or
historical significance or some other contribution to
the city’s character, specifically including all Cypress,
Live Oak, and Magnolia trees with diameter 30 inches
or greater”.
•On private property, Heritage Trees are voluntarily
nominated by the property owner.” This is the third
tree on private property to ever be nominated as a
Heritage Tree in Atlantic Beach.
Heritage Tree Designation
•According to Section 23-41 (a) “The City
Commission may by resolution designate
individual heritage trees.”
•A Heritage Tree designation does not prevent
a tree from ever being removed, but it does
make it more difficult and costly to remove.
•Protected trees have to be mitigated at a rate
of one inch for every two inches removed. A
Heritage Tree has to be mitigated at a rate of
one inch for every inch removed.
Recommendation
•Based on the intrinsic
value due to the size and
age staff recommends
Commission approve
Resolution No. 21-10 to
designate these trees as
heritage trees.
CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH
CITY COMMISSION MEETING
STAFF REPORT
AGENDA ITEM: Resolution No. 21-10
SUBMITTED BY: Amanda Askew, Director of Planning and Community Development
TODAY’S DATE: February 10, 2021
MEETING DATE: February 22, 2021
SUMMARY:
The property owner, Melissa Little, has nominated two landmark live oak trees in the front yard on private
property at 1911 North Sherry Drive as a Heritage Tree. One tree (tree A) on the west side of the garage,
has a diameter of 51 inches. The second tree (tree B) located north of the garage, has a diameter of 43
inches. The property owner has requested the trees be named “The Barnabas Trees”. This project is being
carried out in connection with the City’s on-going designation as a Tree City USA.
According to City Code Section 23-41 (a) “The City Commission may by resolution designate individual
heritage trees.” Although a Heritage Tree designation does not prevent a tree from ever being removed, it
makes it more difficult and costly to remove. Protected trees must be mitigated at a rate of one inch for
every two inches removed; a Heritage Tree must be mitigated at a rate of one inch for every inch removed.
On private property, heritage trees are voluntarily nominated by the property owner. According to the City
of Atlantic Beach Tree Protection Code, the City Commission may by resolution designate individual
heritage trees on private or public property. Heritage Trees are defined as “any tree determined by the City
Commission to be of unique or intrinsic value due to its age, size, species and/or cultural, ecological or
historical significance or some other contribution to the city’s character, specifically including all cypress,
live oak, and magnolia trees with a diameter 30 inches or greater.
The proposed heritage “tree A” is estimated to be approximately 204 years old. The proposed heritage
“tree B” is estimated to be approximately 172 years old. They have been nominated because of their
intrinsic value due to its size and age.
RECOMMENDATION: The City Commission approve Resolution No. 21-10 designating a 51-inch-
diameter and 43-inch-diameter live oak at 1911 North Sherry Drive as a
Heritage Tree.
BUDGET: Less than $150 on a marker identifying the Heritage Tree
ATTACHMENTS: 1. Resolution No. 21-10
2. Photograph of trees
3. Location map
REVIEWED BY CITY MANAGER: ____________________________________________
RESOLUTION NO. 21-10
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH, FLORIDA,
DESIGNATING A 51 INCH-DIAMETER LIVE OAK TREE AND A 43 INCH-
DIAMETER LIVE OAK TREE AT 1911 NORTH SHERRY DRIVE AS A
HERITAGE TREE.
WHEREAS, Atlantic Beach’s tree canopy beautifies our community and improves the lives of
our citizens and visitors by bringing nature to our urban environment and preserving environmental
sanctuaries for connection with the natural world; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission of the City of Atlantic Beach desires to be a good steward of
the tree canopy, particularly specimens of physical and historical significance; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission has the ability to designate individual trees as Heritage Trees
according Section 23-41 (a) of the Atlantic Beach Code of Ordinances; and
WHEREAS, the Heritage Tree designation runs with the property and doubles the mitigation ratio
if the tree is ever removed; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission created the Environmental Stewardship Committee in 2017 to
serve as curators of our environment, thus creating a legacy for future generations of our community; and
WHEREAS, the nominated tree has a 160.22-inch circumference and is approximately 204 years
old, and was selected because of its intrinsic value due to its age and size; and
WHEREAS, the nominated tree has a 135.08-inch circumference and is approximately 172 years
old, and was selected because of its intrinsic value due to its age and size; and
WHEREAS, the nominated trees are named “The Barnabas Trees”; and
NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved that the City Commission of the City of Atlantic Beach
hereby designates a 51-inch-diameter Live Oak and 43-inch-diameter Live Oak on North Sherry Drive as
a “Heritage Tree.”
This Resolution shall take effect immediate upon its passage and adoption.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the City of Atlantic Beach, on this 22nd day of February, 2021.
_____________________________
Ellen Glasser, Mayor
Attest:
____________________________
Donna L. Bartle, City Clerk
Approved as to form and correctness:
_____________________________
Brenna M. Durden, City Attorney