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NRAC to revisit specimen-tree rules; members split on laurel/water oak classifications
Summary
Committee members flagged disagreement over specimen-tree definitions and replacement calculations and agreed to a September meeting to focus on final language for the county tree ordinance.
Volusia County NRAC members on Aug. 5 focused extended discussion on the county tree ordinance, particularly how the code treats "specimen" trees such as laurel oak and water oak. The committee agreed to resume detailed review in September and asked staff to circulate a consolidated draft ahead of that meeting.
The sticking point at the meeting was the specimen-tree treatment and how specimen counts influence replacement percentages. "If you have less than 3 specimen trees per acre, you have to retain 80% of them," explained Keith Abramson, county forester and staff, while describing how the specimen-matrix affects site design flexibility. Abramson cautioned that changing which species count as specimens could change the percentage of trees a developer must retain or replace.
Several members urged adding more staff-level discretion and clarified that many other proposed edits (reordering, lowering minimum replacement size from 2 inches to 1.5 caliper inches, and allowing forester waivers for site conditions) would be allowable under SB 180. "We can't change the rule, but we can make it the applicant's option whether or not a laurel or water oak would be considered a specimen tree," said Tyler (committee member) during debate.
Members also raised practical concerns about public records showing staff waivers. Staff noted that inquiries recorded in the county’s tracking system can appear in due diligence searches for property, and applicants sometimes decline to put waiver discussions into the public record for that reason.
Outcome: NRAC voted to keep the tree-ordinance item active, to circulate consolidated draft language reflecting the items the committee previously approved or that remain allowable under SB 180, and to focus on the specimen-tree issue in September. The committee did not adopt a final ordinance text at the meeting.
Ending: Staff will deliver a consolidated draft showing the items already approved and the subset that remain allowable under SB 180; committee members agreed to a focused September session to finalize the tree ordinance.
