LEGISLATIVE ACTION ITEM
SPONSOR: Grover C. Robinson, IV, Mayor
City Council Member Sherri Myers
City Council Member Jennifer Brahier
SUBJECT:
title
PUBLIC HEARING - PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE - CHAPTER 12-6 TREE/LANDSCAPE REGULATIONS AND CHAPTER 12-13 DEFINITIONS ENUMERATED.
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RECOMMENDATION:
recommendation
That City Council conduct a public hearing on February 11, 2021, to consider proposed amendments to the Land Development Code, Chapter 12-6 Tree/Landscape Regulations and Chapter 12-13 Definitions Enumerated.
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HEARING REQUIRED: Public
SUMMARY:
The City of Pensacola has a long history of prioritizing the protection of trees and recognizes their value as both an environmental and aesthetic amenity. To demonstrate the City’s commitment to being a steward of the environment, the City of Pensacola created and codified tree/landscape regulations that provide protection of trees throughout the City of Pensacola. These regulations provide guidance to both community members and developers, the permitting process for which they can have the trees removed, and provide enforcement authority to the City for failure to comply. Since the creation of the regulations, City staff has drafted various modifications to the codified language. Attached is the most recent City-staff proposed amendments to the regulations. These amendments were drafted in an effort to provide process efficiencies, designate source as responsible for the oversite of this regulation, provide clarity on tree fund usage, provide notice to the public and Council when tree removals are requested within their district, and provide further protections for heritage trees. This item was presented to the City Planning Board on October 13, 2020, and was approved. However, subsequent comments were provided by Council members, and additional changes were made by staff based upon those comments.
PRIOR ACTION:
January 12, 2021 - Planning Board approved these proposed amendments with the recommendation to evaluate the qualifications of the City’s designated arborist and other professionals and include the memorandum expressing additional changes to further protect trees.
FUNDING:
N/A
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
None
CITY ATTORNEY REVIEW: Yes
1/27/2021
STAFF CONTACT:
Keith Wilkins, City Administrator
Kerrith Fiddler, Deputy City Administrator
L. Derrik Owens, Director of Public Works and Facilities/City Engineer
Mark Jackson, Sustainability Coordinator
ATTACHMENTS:
1) Proposed Ordinance No. 01-21
2) Planning Board Minutes, Draft from January 12, 2021
PRESENTATION: No end