Brevard County Heritage and Specimen Tree Preservation
Project Date: 2020-21
IMPORTANT ALERT: Let's save Brevard's remaining heritage and specimen trees before its too late!
Why would Brevard County adopt a thorough, 28-page Land Clearing and Tree Protection Policy and include a single sentence, in Section 62-4334, that EXEMPTS 299,508 properties (90%) from following the policy? The result is that a large part our county’s tree canopy, including heritage and specimen trees, can be clear cut at the whim of property owners.
Think about that for a minute …
Towering 100-year-old Live Oaks, Pin Oaks and Scrub Oaks are being cut down every day.
50-foot tall Sea Grapes, Coconut Palms, Bottle Palms, Royal Palms, Washingtonians and any other trees can be cut down for any reason, or no reason at all, under Brevard county law … No Permits Required!
After extensive discussions with Brevard County Commissioners and Natural Resources staff about the best means to reduce this wanton destruction, the Commissioners will be voting Tuesday, March 10, on a “Legislative Intent” to amend the Specimen tree ordinance. This amendment can either eliminate the exemption or reduce the exempt properties from 1.25 acres in size to .25 acres and achieves the following:
1)Reduce the number of properties where Heritage and Specimen trees can be cut.
2)Save thousands of trees.
3)Preserve habitat and wildlife.
4)Reduce harmful run-off into the Indian River Lagoon.
5)Reduce flooding from run-off
6)Align Brevard's Tree Clearing Policy with the President's Trillion Tree Initiative.
7)Preserve the beautiful views in our neighborhoods and on highway's like A1A, Brevard’s only Federal Scenic roadway.
CONTACT: (phones and emails below) OUR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND ATTEND THE MEETING TO SAVE OUR TREES!
Meeting Date: 5 pm Tuesday, March 10,
Location: Brevard County Gov't Center, 2725 Judge Fran Jamieson Way, Bldg C, Viera
You must be present at the meeting to show your support and you can speak at the podium to preserve these invaluable and irreplaceable trees and let our County Commissioners know exactly how you feel.
Emails are also important if you are unable to attend the meeting.
Please pick any, or all, of the 7 items above as the basis of support and e-mail to all 5 Commissioners:
I Support an Amendment to eliminate the exemption on the cutting of our trees in Section 62-4334 of Brevard Code.
Rita Prichett [email protected] 321-607-6901
Brian Lober d2.commissioner@brevardcounty.us 321-454-6601
John Tobia [email protected] 321-633-2075
Curt Smith [email protected] 321-633-2044
Kristine Isnardi [email protected] 321-253-6611
Together we can make this happen!
Brevard County Policy Loophole
A) Before the exemption clause in the Policy;
Section 62-4331, Purpose and Intent.
The Brevard County Board of County Commissioners finds that the health, safety and welfare of its citizens can best be protected by land use regulations that support and enforce the following community goals:
1) Promote the establishment and Conservation of Native Vegetative communities 3) Encourage the Protection of Heritage or Specimen Trees. 4) Promote Water Conservation and Aquifer Recharge
8) Control Soil Erosion
Then there is;
B) The exemption is: Section 62-4334,(2) of Exemptions
Allows removal of all trees (any size) for lots under 1.25 acres...which is practically ALL trees (90% of properties in Brevard)!
Section 62-4341 Landscape Performance Standards - Single family lots 1.25 acres or less (without CO yet) are exempt from removal and replacement criteria as outlined in Section 62-4341 (18), including Specimen Tree criteria.
Section 62-4341 (18)- Replacement criteria. Specimen and Protected Trees shall be preserved or relocated on site to the Greatest Extent Feasible. Where the site, parcel or lot has met canopy coverage requirements as outlined in Section 62-4339, without the use of an Alternative Landscape Enhancement Plan, site, parcel or lot shall not be subject to replacement criteria with the exception of Specimen Trees. Where the removal of a protected or specimen tree is necessary below the minimum canopy preservation percentage required per Section 62-4339, an Alternative Landscape Enhancement Plan shall be required that meets the criteria in Section 62-4344.
Brevard County Commission Tree Policy Agenda Item
Agenda Report
New Business - Development and
Environmental Services Group
2725 Judge Fran Jamieson
Way
Viera, FL 32940
3/10/2020
Subject:
Legislative Intent and Permission to Advertise Amendments to Chapter 62, Article XIII, Division 2, entitled
Landscaping, Land Clearing and Tree Protection
Fiscal Impact:
FY20/21: Advertising Costs
Dept/Office:
Natural Resources Management Department
Requested Action:
Staff requests legislative intent and permission to advertise amendments to Chapter 62, Article XIII, Division 2,
entitled Landscaping, Land Clearing and Tree Protection
Summary Explanation and Background:
On January 21, 2020, the Board of County Commissioners (Board) requested that Natural Resources
Management Department (Natural Resources) compile information regarding preservation requirements as
the Landscaping, Land Clearing and Tree Protection Ordinance (Ordinance) does not provide protection of
Specimen or Protected Trees for the majority of single-family residence (S.F.R.) properties in unincorporated
Brevard County. The concern was brought forward by a Brevard County citizen, who requested that the Board
amend the portion of the Ordinance exempting single-family lots, 1.25 acres and less, with and without a
Certificate of Occupancy (C.O.), from all tree canopy and tree preservation requirements. Specifically, the
citizen requested a reduction in current lot size exemptions from 1.25 acres to 0.25 acres, thereby requiring
more lots to preserve trees.
Options for Board Consideration
Option 1: Approve legislative intent and permission to advertise amendments to Chapter 62, Article XIII,
Division 2, entitled Landscaping, Land Clearing and Tree Protection, for single-family lots for which a building
permit is being sought, as follows:
· Option 1a: Consistent with the citizen request, reduce the removal and replacement exemption
threshold from 1.25 to 0.25 acres for single-family lots.
· Option 1b: Reduce the removal and replacement exemption threshold from 1.25 to 0.75 acres for
single-family lots.
Option 2: Approve legislative intent and permission to advertise amendments to Chapter 62, Article XIII,
Division 2, entitled Landscaping, Land Clearing and Tree Protection, for single-family lots that have a C.O., and
where no building permit is being sought, as follows:
· Option 2a: Consistent with the citizen request, reduce the tree preservation exemption threshold for
single-family lots with a C.O. from 1.25 to 0.25 acres.
· Option 2b: Reduce the tree preservation exemption threshold for single-family lots with a C.O. from
1.25 acres to no exemptions.
Option 3: Approve legislative intent and permission to advertise amendments to Chapter 62, Article XIII,
Division 2, entitled Landscaping, Land Clearing and Tree Protection, for a combination of above options or
alternate lot size thresholds.
Option 4: Update Ordinance to provide exemptions consistent with State law such as the recent state
legislation on the removal of dangerous trees.
Option 5: Take no action.
Option 6: Provide other direction.
Background
The adopted Ordinance finds that the health, safety, and welfare of its citizens can best be protected by land
development regulations that encourage the protection of Heritage or Specimen Trees. Property owners that
are able to provide preservation typically enjoy quantifiable savings and benefits in reduced energy costs,
intercepted rainfall and runoff, reduced atmospheric carbon dioxide, and removal of air pollutants as outlined
by the United States Forest Service’s i-Tree Design Tool, and tree valuation studies by City of Tampa, City of
Gainesville, and Environmental Protection Agency. Property owners that do not provide preservation or
planting during the construction process do not enjoy these advantages, nor does the county or municipality
realize the benefits of property owners’ reduced runoff and pollutant treatment.
In 2005, and again in 2008, two Board-directed Taskforces overhauled the Ordinance. The resulting (current)
Ordinance is more flexible for development with considerably reduced preservation, landscaping, and tree
replacement requirements. The 2005 and 2008 amendments are comparable to, or more flexible than,
neighboring county and city landscaping, land clearing, and tree protection codes.
Since those modifications, Brevard County has experienced a population increase of almost 10% from 543,376
in 2010 to 596,849 in 2019. In 2010, Brevard County issued 318 building permits for construction of new S.F.R.
homes. In 2019, this number increased three-fold to 969 S.F.R. building permits. Between 2010 and 2019, over
6,400 S.F.R. building permits were issued in unincorporated Brevard County. Development has a significant
effect on trees due to the lot size threshold used to determine tree protection and replacement exemptions.
Preliminary Analysis
Natural Resources conducted an initial analysis of the number of S.F.R. lots in unincorporated Brevard County
that would be affected by the citizen request. Approximately 110,075, or 88%, of S.F.R. lots, are 1.25 acres or
less, and are currently exempt from preservation of any tree canopy including Specimen and Protected Trees.
Protected Trees on the mainland are hardwoods (e.g., oaks) ≥ 10” diameter at breast height (D.B.H.) and
softwoods (e.g., pines) ≥ 14” D.B.H. Specimen Trees are large species hardwood or softwood trees ≥ 24” D.B.H.
and understory trees ≥ 10” D.B.H.
The citizen request proposed reducing the Specimen Tree protection threshold from 1.25 acres to 0.25 acres
for all S.F.R. lots, with and without a Certificate of Occupancy (C.O.). Based on staff experience and analysis,
there may be a need to separate the evaluation of tree protection for lots with a C.O. (after a home is built)
versus lots without a C.O. (lots for which a building permit is sought). During the building permit process,
reducing the exemption threshold for preservation to 0.25 acres may not be practical due to adverse site
conditions such as topography, easements, utilities, and distribution of trees on small lots. Staff found that a
threshold of 0.75 acre typically allows property owners to place all desired and required improvements on the
lot, provide preservation of trees, if applicable, and still have more than one-third of the lot for open space
(See attached Percentage of Free Lot Area table). For all single-family lots with structures already in place
(after C.O.), a tree removal exemption is currently provided in the Ordinance, and in Chapter 2019-155, Florida
Statutes, allowing for removal of a tree that is evaluated as dangerous per an International Society of
Arboriculture (ISA) certified arborist. A summary is presented in the attached S.F.R. Lots Size Comparison
Matrix.
Comprehensive Plan Policies
Multiple Brevard County Comprehensive Plan policies require the reduction of the urban heat island effect,
erosion, and flooding through the planting or preservation of landscaping and trees. Mature tree canopy and
root systems provide the following benefits that are supported by Comprehensive Plan policies:
· Conservation Element Policy 1.8 - Improve air quality by oxygen production, and intake of carbon and
other pollutants.
· Conservation Element Policy 2.1.C - Provide cooling effect through evapotranspiration; natural
misting. Provide shade that reduces water usage, and energy demands associated with cooling
homes/buildings.
· Conservation Element Objective 3 & Coastal Element Policy 2.3.A - Improve water quality by
reducing excess nutrient and pollutant loading into water bodies (surface water and groundwater) by
uptake through roots.
· Conservation Element Objective 4 - Reduce flooding by stormwater run-off uptake through roots,
thereby increasing flood storage capacity.
· Conservation Element Policy 7.1 & Coastal Element Policy 2.3.A, 4.1.A - Reduce/prevent erosion &
sediment run-off into surface water bodies by stabilizing soils/dunes.
· Conservation Element Policy 7.1.D, 2.1 & Coastal Element Policy 4.1.A - Provide wind control that
protects structures and reduce heating costs.
· Conservation Element Policy 8.5 - Provide shade and block solar radiation to reduce Heat Island
Effects associated with impervious surfaces and urban sprawl. Impervious areas can be 1.8 to 5.4
degrees hotter than rural areas.
· Conservation Element Policy 8.5.B, 1.8 - Provide screening: visual, noise, light, odor, and traffic
emissions.
· Conservation Element Objective 9, Policy 9.1 - Provide habitat for valuable wildlife and migrating
birds.
Other Exemptions and Minor Modifications
In researching tree maintenance/preservation and collaborating with other county departments, staff
discovered a need to simplify removal and maintenance exemption, particularly with regards to right-of-way
clearance. Specifically, maintaining limb clearance consistent with Florida Statutes regarding vehicular height
standards has been a challenge in certain areas of the county. Staff believes clarification to the exemptions
would be beneficial. Additionally, updating the existing Small Scale Land Clearing Permit could reduce existing
conflicts between maintenance and preservation of trees and vehicular/pedestrian safety and access.
Lastly, staff requests permission to provide minor modifications to the Ordinance, updating departmental
name, clarifying consistency with recent state law regarding the removal of dangerous trees, and other
housekeeping items.
Clerk to the Board Instructions:
None.
EPA: One Trillion Trees Initiative will build on President Donald Trump’s commitment
By: Andrew Wheeler, Opinion contributor
Published 4:41 p.m. ET Feb. 11, 2020, Florida Today
Andrew Wheeler is administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
As the president stated in his State of the Union address, the United States will join the One Trillion Trees Initiative, an ambitious effort to bring together government and the private sector to plant new trees in America and around the world.
Planting and restoring trees, along with sustainable forestation practices, are some of the most beneficial means to protecting our environment, sustaining land and resources, reducing carbon in our atmosphere, and ensuring a natural environment for various species and wildlife.
In joining the initiative, the United States will continue to show strong leadership in restoring, growing and managing our forests. Healthy forests capture carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. In fact, trees are among the most efficient carbon offsets. In 2017 alone, American forests and lands absorbed enough carbon dioxide to offset more than 11% of our nation's emissions that year.
The One Trillion Trees Initiative will build on our robust efforts to preserve and protect our environment and will continue to deliver on President Trump’s commitment to ensure that all Americans have access to clean air, safe drinking water and sustainable land. We are proud that our nation is on a positive trajectory.
IMPORTANT ALERT: Let's save Brevard's remaining heritage and specimen trees before its too late!
Why would Brevard County adopt a thorough, 28-page Land Clearing and Tree Protection Policy and include a single sentence, in Section 62-4334, that EXEMPTS 299,508 properties (90%) from following the policy? The result is that a large part our county’s tree canopy, including heritage and specimen trees, can be clear cut at the whim of property owners.
Think about that for a minute …
Towering 100-year-old Live Oaks, Pin Oaks and Scrub Oaks are being cut down every day.
50-foot tall Sea Grapes, Coconut Palms, Bottle Palms, Royal Palms, Washingtonians and any other trees can be cut down for any reason, or no reason at all, under Brevard county law … No Permits Required!
After extensive discussions with Brevard County Commissioners and Natural Resources staff about the best means to reduce this wanton destruction, the Commissioners will be voting Tuesday, March 10, on a “Legislative Intent” to amend the Specimen tree ordinance. This amendment can either eliminate the exemption or reduce the exempt properties from 1.25 acres in size to .25 acres and achieves the following:
1)Reduce the number of properties where Heritage and Specimen trees can be cut.
2)Save thousands of trees.
3)Preserve habitat and wildlife.
4)Reduce harmful run-off into the Indian River Lagoon.
5)Reduce flooding from run-off
6)Align Brevard's Tree Clearing Policy with the President's Trillion Tree Initiative.
7)Preserve the beautiful views in our neighborhoods and on highway's like A1A, Brevard’s only Federal Scenic roadway.
CONTACT: (phones and emails below) OUR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND ATTEND THE MEETING TO SAVE OUR TREES!
Meeting Date: 5 pm Tuesday, March 10,
Location: Brevard County Gov't Center, 2725 Judge Fran Jamieson Way, Bldg C, Viera
You must be present at the meeting to show your support and you can speak at the podium to preserve these invaluable and irreplaceable trees and let our County Commissioners know exactly how you feel.
Emails are also important if you are unable to attend the meeting.
Please pick any, or all, of the 7 items above as the basis of support and e-mail to all 5 Commissioners:
I Support an Amendment to eliminate the exemption on the cutting of our trees in Section 62-4334 of Brevard Code.
Rita Prichett [email protected] 321-607-6901
Brian Lober d2.commissioner@brevardcounty.us 321-454-6601
John Tobia [email protected] 321-633-2075
Curt Smith [email protected] 321-633-2044
Kristine Isnardi [email protected] 321-253-6611
Together we can make this happen!
Brevard County Policy Loophole
A) Before the exemption clause in the Policy;
Section 62-4331, Purpose and Intent.
The Brevard County Board of County Commissioners finds that the health, safety and welfare of its citizens can best be protected by land use regulations that support and enforce the following community goals:
1) Promote the establishment and Conservation of Native Vegetative communities 3) Encourage the Protection of Heritage or Specimen Trees. 4) Promote Water Conservation and Aquifer Recharge
8) Control Soil Erosion
Then there is;
B) The exemption is: Section 62-4334,(2) of Exemptions
Allows removal of all trees (any size) for lots under 1.25 acres...which is practically ALL trees (90% of properties in Brevard)!
Section 62-4341 Landscape Performance Standards - Single family lots 1.25 acres or less (without CO yet) are exempt from removal and replacement criteria as outlined in Section 62-4341 (18), including Specimen Tree criteria.
Section 62-4341 (18)- Replacement criteria. Specimen and Protected Trees shall be preserved or relocated on site to the Greatest Extent Feasible. Where the site, parcel or lot has met canopy coverage requirements as outlined in Section 62-4339, without the use of an Alternative Landscape Enhancement Plan, site, parcel or lot shall not be subject to replacement criteria with the exception of Specimen Trees. Where the removal of a protected or specimen tree is necessary below the minimum canopy preservation percentage required per Section 62-4339, an Alternative Landscape Enhancement Plan shall be required that meets the criteria in Section 62-4344.
Brevard County Commission Tree Policy Agenda Item
Agenda Report
New Business - Development and
Environmental Services Group
2725 Judge Fran Jamieson
Way
Viera, FL 32940
3/10/2020
Subject:
Legislative Intent and Permission to Advertise Amendments to Chapter 62, Article XIII, Division 2, entitled
Landscaping, Land Clearing and Tree Protection
Fiscal Impact:
FY20/21: Advertising Costs
Dept/Office:
Natural Resources Management Department
Requested Action:
Staff requests legislative intent and permission to advertise amendments to Chapter 62, Article XIII, Division 2,
entitled Landscaping, Land Clearing and Tree Protection
Summary Explanation and Background:
On January 21, 2020, the Board of County Commissioners (Board) requested that Natural Resources
Management Department (Natural Resources) compile information regarding preservation requirements as
the Landscaping, Land Clearing and Tree Protection Ordinance (Ordinance) does not provide protection of
Specimen or Protected Trees for the majority of single-family residence (S.F.R.) properties in unincorporated
Brevard County. The concern was brought forward by a Brevard County citizen, who requested that the Board
amend the portion of the Ordinance exempting single-family lots, 1.25 acres and less, with and without a
Certificate of Occupancy (C.O.), from all tree canopy and tree preservation requirements. Specifically, the
citizen requested a reduction in current lot size exemptions from 1.25 acres to 0.25 acres, thereby requiring
more lots to preserve trees.
Options for Board Consideration
Option 1: Approve legislative intent and permission to advertise amendments to Chapter 62, Article XIII,
Division 2, entitled Landscaping, Land Clearing and Tree Protection, for single-family lots for which a building
permit is being sought, as follows:
· Option 1a: Consistent with the citizen request, reduce the removal and replacement exemption
threshold from 1.25 to 0.25 acres for single-family lots.
· Option 1b: Reduce the removal and replacement exemption threshold from 1.25 to 0.75 acres for
single-family lots.
Option 2: Approve legislative intent and permission to advertise amendments to Chapter 62, Article XIII,
Division 2, entitled Landscaping, Land Clearing and Tree Protection, for single-family lots that have a C.O., and
where no building permit is being sought, as follows:
· Option 2a: Consistent with the citizen request, reduce the tree preservation exemption threshold for
single-family lots with a C.O. from 1.25 to 0.25 acres.
· Option 2b: Reduce the tree preservation exemption threshold for single-family lots with a C.O. from
1.25 acres to no exemptions.
Option 3: Approve legislative intent and permission to advertise amendments to Chapter 62, Article XIII,
Division 2, entitled Landscaping, Land Clearing and Tree Protection, for a combination of above options or
alternate lot size thresholds.
Option 4: Update Ordinance to provide exemptions consistent with State law such as the recent state
legislation on the removal of dangerous trees.
Option 5: Take no action.
Option 6: Provide other direction.
Background
The adopted Ordinance finds that the health, safety, and welfare of its citizens can best be protected by land
development regulations that encourage the protection of Heritage or Specimen Trees. Property owners that
are able to provide preservation typically enjoy quantifiable savings and benefits in reduced energy costs,
intercepted rainfall and runoff, reduced atmospheric carbon dioxide, and removal of air pollutants as outlined
by the United States Forest Service’s i-Tree Design Tool, and tree valuation studies by City of Tampa, City of
Gainesville, and Environmental Protection Agency. Property owners that do not provide preservation or
planting during the construction process do not enjoy these advantages, nor does the county or municipality
realize the benefits of property owners’ reduced runoff and pollutant treatment.
In 2005, and again in 2008, two Board-directed Taskforces overhauled the Ordinance. The resulting (current)
Ordinance is more flexible for development with considerably reduced preservation, landscaping, and tree
replacement requirements. The 2005 and 2008 amendments are comparable to, or more flexible than,
neighboring county and city landscaping, land clearing, and tree protection codes.
Since those modifications, Brevard County has experienced a population increase of almost 10% from 543,376
in 2010 to 596,849 in 2019. In 2010, Brevard County issued 318 building permits for construction of new S.F.R.
homes. In 2019, this number increased three-fold to 969 S.F.R. building permits. Between 2010 and 2019, over
6,400 S.F.R. building permits were issued in unincorporated Brevard County. Development has a significant
effect on trees due to the lot size threshold used to determine tree protection and replacement exemptions.
Preliminary Analysis
Natural Resources conducted an initial analysis of the number of S.F.R. lots in unincorporated Brevard County
that would be affected by the citizen request. Approximately 110,075, or 88%, of S.F.R. lots, are 1.25 acres or
less, and are currently exempt from preservation of any tree canopy including Specimen and Protected Trees.
Protected Trees on the mainland are hardwoods (e.g., oaks) ≥ 10” diameter at breast height (D.B.H.) and
softwoods (e.g., pines) ≥ 14” D.B.H. Specimen Trees are large species hardwood or softwood trees ≥ 24” D.B.H.
and understory trees ≥ 10” D.B.H.
The citizen request proposed reducing the Specimen Tree protection threshold from 1.25 acres to 0.25 acres
for all S.F.R. lots, with and without a Certificate of Occupancy (C.O.). Based on staff experience and analysis,
there may be a need to separate the evaluation of tree protection for lots with a C.O. (after a home is built)
versus lots without a C.O. (lots for which a building permit is sought). During the building permit process,
reducing the exemption threshold for preservation to 0.25 acres may not be practical due to adverse site
conditions such as topography, easements, utilities, and distribution of trees on small lots. Staff found that a
threshold of 0.75 acre typically allows property owners to place all desired and required improvements on the
lot, provide preservation of trees, if applicable, and still have more than one-third of the lot for open space
(See attached Percentage of Free Lot Area table). For all single-family lots with structures already in place
(after C.O.), a tree removal exemption is currently provided in the Ordinance, and in Chapter 2019-155, Florida
Statutes, allowing for removal of a tree that is evaluated as dangerous per an International Society of
Arboriculture (ISA) certified arborist. A summary is presented in the attached S.F.R. Lots Size Comparison
Matrix.
Comprehensive Plan Policies
Multiple Brevard County Comprehensive Plan policies require the reduction of the urban heat island effect,
erosion, and flooding through the planting or preservation of landscaping and trees. Mature tree canopy and
root systems provide the following benefits that are supported by Comprehensive Plan policies:
· Conservation Element Policy 1.8 - Improve air quality by oxygen production, and intake of carbon and
other pollutants.
· Conservation Element Policy 2.1.C - Provide cooling effect through evapotranspiration; natural
misting. Provide shade that reduces water usage, and energy demands associated with cooling
homes/buildings.
· Conservation Element Objective 3 & Coastal Element Policy 2.3.A - Improve water quality by
reducing excess nutrient and pollutant loading into water bodies (surface water and groundwater) by
uptake through roots.
· Conservation Element Objective 4 - Reduce flooding by stormwater run-off uptake through roots,
thereby increasing flood storage capacity.
· Conservation Element Policy 7.1 & Coastal Element Policy 2.3.A, 4.1.A - Reduce/prevent erosion &
sediment run-off into surface water bodies by stabilizing soils/dunes.
· Conservation Element Policy 7.1.D, 2.1 & Coastal Element Policy 4.1.A - Provide wind control that
protects structures and reduce heating costs.
· Conservation Element Policy 8.5 - Provide shade and block solar radiation to reduce Heat Island
Effects associated with impervious surfaces and urban sprawl. Impervious areas can be 1.8 to 5.4
degrees hotter than rural areas.
· Conservation Element Policy 8.5.B, 1.8 - Provide screening: visual, noise, light, odor, and traffic
emissions.
· Conservation Element Objective 9, Policy 9.1 - Provide habitat for valuable wildlife and migrating
birds.
Other Exemptions and Minor Modifications
In researching tree maintenance/preservation and collaborating with other county departments, staff
discovered a need to simplify removal and maintenance exemption, particularly with regards to right-of-way
clearance. Specifically, maintaining limb clearance consistent with Florida Statutes regarding vehicular height
standards has been a challenge in certain areas of the county. Staff believes clarification to the exemptions
would be beneficial. Additionally, updating the existing Small Scale Land Clearing Permit could reduce existing
conflicts between maintenance and preservation of trees and vehicular/pedestrian safety and access.
Lastly, staff requests permission to provide minor modifications to the Ordinance, updating departmental
name, clarifying consistency with recent state law regarding the removal of dangerous trees, and other
housekeeping items.
Clerk to the Board Instructions:
None.
EPA: One Trillion Trees Initiative will build on President Donald Trump’s commitment
By: Andrew Wheeler, Opinion contributor
Published 4:41 p.m. ET Feb. 11, 2020, Florida Today
Andrew Wheeler is administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
As the president stated in his State of the Union address, the United States will join the One Trillion Trees Initiative, an ambitious effort to bring together government and the private sector to plant new trees in America and around the world.
Planting and restoring trees, along with sustainable forestation practices, are some of the most beneficial means to protecting our environment, sustaining land and resources, reducing carbon in our atmosphere, and ensuring a natural environment for various species and wildlife.
In joining the initiative, the United States will continue to show strong leadership in restoring, growing and managing our forests. Healthy forests capture carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. In fact, trees are among the most efficient carbon offsets. In 2017 alone, American forests and lands absorbed enough carbon dioxide to offset more than 11% of our nation's emissions that year.
The One Trillion Trees Initiative will build on our robust efforts to preserve and protect our environment and will continue to deliver on President Trump’s commitment to ensure that all Americans have access to clean air, safe drinking water and sustainable land. We are proud that our nation is on a positive trajectory.
