[{"_1":2,"_84":-5,"_85":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6617463,"mediaKeyId","2842300-86acd0220b7347aea1bb37111bd766bd","parentId",2842300,"title","Planning board approves PUD amendment for 11 Garnett Avenue after tree‑relocation dispute","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",7200000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2842300-86acd0220b7347aea1bb37111bd766bd&start=7200&end=7200","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2842300-86acd0220b7347aea1bb37111bd766bd/thumbnail_7200000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6617463/St-Augustine/St-Johns-County/Florida/Planning-board-approves-PUD-amendment-for-11-Garnett-Avenue-after-treerelocation-dispute","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6617463-6de414e9ba22a4b44f284b555e2f4f66/orig.mp4?Expires=1772946813&Signature=DcsvJ97sGF6zK6jYDWsnycAr2BRCGBlvGTS0y7oJtLv~0jACe9IbdH2ovpKXLfWuiREF2vNKCUf1DJbJtEEYerXDjoyeYDru6dRs4kqPHaHZ6FrbRqCuOuqkRVa1VSD167AAqSbgkgLw9ie7fctljOxQxEhaFynMtc8KJotrbk3JIOWBhEQyXBamF2R75j6tkNxXa4mvH~A60h4-6ArMXAW0I7iXEFLGUOfm12HqwimPw~2fa7BOlz7NUJWseYPGO9j4PqpGl4VgIzkG0F2iOMJPx2ah37ApYdNK59Q-q-UZyHg5J3YG1QROrgU6O04~w8LPhDuNcRa7otJeTo2tMw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","St. Augustine","date","2025-04-01T00:00:00Z","article","The Planning & Zoning Board voted April 1 to recommend approval of a PUD text amendment and related changes for 11 Garnett Avenue — the parcel associated with the Ace Hardware store in the San Marco/Anastasia area — after developer representatives detailed efforts to relocate five specimen live oaks and presented a revised mitigation plan.

Why it matters: The project had been approved previously as part of a broader PUD, and tree relocation was an explicit part of earlier approvals. Developers said two of the five trees had fallen in storms and the remaining three were determined by arborists to be structurally compromised and unsafe. The board accepted a mitigation package combining larger mature oaks in the Windward town‑square and increased caliper sizes for trees on the residential side of the shipyard plan.

What the board decided: Members voted to approve the PUD modification that replaces the earlier relocation commitment with a detailed replacement program: (a) five large live‑oaks (proposed at roughly 18–20‑inch caliper) to be installed in the project’s town square, and (b) an increase in the caliper of 19 oak plantings in single‑family/common areas (from 4‑inch to 8‑inch) to accelerate canopy recovery. The developers committed funds and tree‑planting plans; the board asked that final planting locations and guarantees be incorporated into the PUD text or an accompanying agreement so obligations run with the property.

Developers’ account: Windward representatives said they hired a specialist who initially prepared and pruned the roots of the five large oaks for relocation, then strapped and lifted trees; they said the contractor later walked off the job and subsequent contractors concluded the specimens were unsalvageable after storm damage, hollowing in trunks and other decay were observed. The current purchasers (Toll Brothers for the single‑family portion) said they had further tested the trees and decided relocation would be unreliable and unsafe.

Mitigation and next steps: The project team proposed replacing the five specimen trees with five large‑caliper oaks in the public town square, plus larger common‑area plantings on the residential side; the project planner said those replacements would more than offset the code credit deficit caused by the lost specimen trees. The board asked staff and the applicants to finalize language that places replacement obligations and maintenance guarantees in the PUD text or an enforceable memorandum so successors and assigns remain responsible. Board members also asked applicants to specify replacement timing and replacement guarantees in writing before the PUD amendment goes to the City Commission.

Votes: The board approved the amendment by roll call.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","St. Augustine - Planning and Zoning Board (PZB) - Apr 01, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The board approved changes to a PUD to allow Ace Hardware’s owner to expand and formalize docks/warehouse space, accepting an amended tree‑mitigation plan after developers disclosed that five specimen live oaks prepared for relocation could not be saved.","taxTitle","St. Augustine, St. Johns County , Florida","taxId",4620,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":42,"_43":77,"_45":77,"_46":78,"_48":79,"_50":80,"_52":81,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":82,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":83,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6617467,"Madera commercial plan continued after debate over tree removals and fill",656000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2842300-86acd0220b7347aea1bb37111bd766bd&start=656&end=656","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2842300-86acd0220b7347aea1bb37111bd766bd/thumbnail_656000.jpg","/articles/6617467/St-Augustine/St-Johns-County/Florida/Madera-commercial-plan-continued-after-debate-over-tree-removals-and-fill","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6617467-69d7b10958c7d33928be31f85809aec6/orig.mp4?Expires=1772946813&Signature=QE99LAcUyWKQF1iyRiuo68BZgNddliDnwubpcXzDenNx4r2-V5scc35v1n-4z~rzK51gPcUBCeCraFO8cJjDuMJCMNHdjOMqJvT9-4T5rH1326iq3yF2q25DqtNpx47pGqjRPx-MOVcKuX~ssI3s319exm-YG3RHl1YnCJ9FeRf7NOl-NIv~2sYQU4BPpLVdtXYsDlRB-41Rfy-LibQysHB8E5JXLaZjIZFvfCnwpRXmLU5DCgsK-eMhz-Ohmqs6ZZojHzs98lduaMbDc0UBZQdXGb1sKTzz02-LWG-PtBuSmt0PvoJK7TlmolM6e7r0kAtbviwBFE0xehe2882p9A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Planning & Zoning Board on April 1 continued an application from Ponce Commercial (Madera) to remove trees, place fill and clear land for commercial development on two parcels along U.S. 1, and to review associated remediation plans.

The continuance gives the applicant time to supply additional materials requested by staff — including clearer grading, mitigation and contract details — and to meet with staff about inconsistencies in materials submitted late to the city. The board set the next hearing date for June 3, 2025.

Why it matters: The parcels are part of the larger Madera master plan and lie immediately adjacent to the Tennis Village and other residential neighborhoods. Residents and condo associations urged the board to require stronger protections for significant live oaks and to preserve canopy and wildlife habitat. Developers and counsel said much of the site requires arsenic sampling and remediation because of historic golf‑course pesticide use, and said bulk remediation and filling are needed to make utility and roadway infrastructure buildable.

Developers, engineers and residents debated where remediation and fill will be required, whether preservation wells/tree wells can save significant live oaks and how many trees would be removed. Applicant representatives said some parcels already have prospective users under contract and argued they must do bulk remediation and grading to “get shovel‑ready” pads; residents said heavy equipment and clearing appeared to be occurring before approvals and urged the city to inspect the site.

Board members pressed for: (1) an overlay showing proposed building footprints, grading and the exact drip lines/Tree Protection Zones for all specimen trees; (2) documentation of which lots are under contract to which end users and the firmness of those contracts (binder deposits, refundable vs. nonrefundable status); (3) more robust tree mitigation details including sizes (caliper) and planting locations; and (4) clearer stormwater and arsenic‑sampling plans from the St. Johns River Water Management District and Florida DEP records. Several board members asked for evidence that individual significant trees could not be saved by adjusting building footprints or parking and urged the applicant to show any attempts to redesign around specimen live oaks.

Public comment: More than a dozen residents spoke at the meeting, many representing Tennis Village and surrounding neighborhoods. Speakers said they support sensible commercial uses but objected to the scale of tree loss — residents said 333 trees were listed on applicant tables with 14 identified as “significant” — and worried about noise, lighting, traffic signal design on U.S. 1 and loss of bird and wildlife habitat. Several letters from residents and a condominium HOA asked the board to continue to allow neighbors to review plans.

What the board did: The board voted unanimously to continue the application to the June 3 meeting and asked staff to collect missing or inconsistent materials at least 10 days before that meeting so the packet can be reviewed by members. The board recommended that the applicants provide a consolidated file with the tree survey, arborist report, proposed building footprints, grading/existing elevations and a reconciliation table listing preserved vs. removed trees and mitigation credits.

What happens next: The applicant said it will meet staff, revise plans, and return with a complete package as requested; the board will rehear the item June 3. The City’s St. Johns River Water Management District permit and FDLP remediation steps remain relevant to final approvals.","Developers seeking to clear and fill two commercial parcels of the Madera PUD on U.S. 1 asked the Planning & Zoning Board to continue review after residents raised tree‑removal, remediation and traffic concerns; the board agreed to rehear the application June 3.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Planning board approves PUD amendment for 11 Garnett Avenue after tree‑relocation dispute

Madera commercial plan continued after debate over tree removals and fill