LEGISLATIVE ACTION ITEM
SPONSOR: City Council Member Sherri Myers
SUBJECT:
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REFERRAL TO PLANNING BOARD - PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO SECTION 12-6-4 OF THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE (LDC)
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RECOMMENDATION:
recommendation
That City Council approve sending various amendments to Section 12-6-4 of the LDC to the Planning Board for review and recommendation.
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HEARING REQUIRED: No Hearing Required
SUMMARY:
The purpose of these proposed amendments is to assure that the public and elected governmental officials have sufficient notice prior to the removal of protected trees, urban forest and the city’s tree canopy.
At present the city has only a small amount of urban forest left, mostly on private property and located in the Carpenter’s Creek watershed. Most recently, six (6) acres of a dense urban forest that contained many pine trees, some Long Leaf and Loblolly Pines and other pines native to Escambia County was clear cut. The forest located on Grande Street in District 2 provided shade and habitat for many species of wildlife. In less than two (2) days this area was completely clear cut. Signs were posted with no phone number to call.
On June 15, 2020, I tried all day to get in touch with someone in the city with knowledge regarding the notice of tree removal, all to no avail. It was a Monday. During the late afternoon of June 15, I received an email from Inspections with a copy of the tree removal plan. On June 16, at 10:00 a.m., I went back to the site to find that a large portion of the forest had been clear cut. On June 17, it was complete. An urban forest of 6 acres gone in less than 24-hours. As I stood around watching the destruction of this urban forest, residents across the street expressed to me their sorrow for the removal of the forest in their neighborhood.
The amendments to Sec 12-6-4 of the LDC will provide residents, interested parties, and elected governmental officials time to address their concerns before urban forests are removed and forever destroyed.
PRIOR ACTION:
None
FUNDING:
N/A
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
None for this item
STAFF CONTACT:
Don Kraher, Council Executive
ATTACHMENTS:
1) Proposed Amendments to Sec 12-6-4 of the LDC
2) Photograph of Grande Street Site
PRESENTATION: No