The City of Saint Augustine Planning and Zoning Board on Oct. 7 approved removal of a 16-inch-diameter southern red cedar from 13 Saragossa Street to allow foundation repairs on an 1875 house.

Staff told the board the application is a Conservation Overlay Zone development request under the city’s conservation overlay rules and that removal requires Planning and Zoning Board review of the applicable criteria. The applicant, Fremont Latimer, said the tree’s roots were adjacent to the historic house footer and that trimming roots would destabilize the tree: "Given the lean of the tree away from the footer, there's no way to trim the roots without totally destabilizing the tree," he said. He proposed planting two replacement trees, and asked whether one could be planted off-site.

Nut graf: The board found that structural repairs to the historic home make removal necessary and approved mitigation measures. Staff confirmed that if on-site replacement is infeasible the applicant may pay into the city’s mitigation fund or propose an off-site planting location coordinated with staff.

Board members inspected the site or reported familiarity with it and noted limited available planting space on the small corner lot. The applicant explained the rear of the lot contains driveway and parking surfaces; a large Laurel oak near the proposed planting location constrains options. Planning staff said the mitigation fund is an available alternative when replacement cannot be fully accommodated on site.

Action: The board approved PZB 2025-0076 allowing removal of the 16-inch southern red cedar, with a condition to plant one replacement cedar on the property and to satisfy the second mitigation requirement by payment into the city mitigation fund or planting off-site in coordination with staff. The motion passed on a roll call vote.

Ending: Staff will record the mitigation plan and monitor compliance; the applicant and owner said they plan to proceed with foundation repairs after satisfying mitigation and permitting requirements.