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Developer took down protected beech tree at 805 Wells Street; plan staff and commissioners call it a conditional-use violation
Summary
Planning staff reported removal of a protected beech tree at the 805 Wells Street condominium development; the city will pursue remedies, possibly including conditional-use revocation or other remedies, after staff investigation.
City planning staff informed the Plan Commission on Sept. 24 that a beech tree the city had worked to protect at the 805 Wells Street condominium development was removed without authorization, in violation of the project’s conditional-use permit. Staff said the developer’s tree contractor took the tree down after excavators began work a day early; the developer had hired a tree company to avoid such removals, but the site contractor proceeded and the tree was cut.
Amy Barrows told commissioners the removal violated the conditional-use permit’s tree-protection requirements and staff will work through remedies. Commissioners expressed dismay at the removal and said they would place the developer before the Common Council for possible revocation of the conditional use permit or to seek other remedies. A Plan Commission member described the action as "egregious," noting volunteer time invested in protecting the tree and the city’s expectation that approved conditions be enforced.
No formal remedy was decided at the Sept. 24 meeting; staff said they will prepare materials for the council, and that investigative follow-up and enforcement action are pending.
