Pasco County hikes tree-mitigation fee, restricts fund uses and limits administrator spending

Pasco County commissioners voted July 15 to raise the rates paid into the county's tree mitigation fund, expand where mitigation money may be used and add new controls on how the county administrator may spend the money. The board approved the measure after several hours of presentation and debate by planning staff and commissioners.

County planning officials said the fund, which was established decades ago and last adjusted by resolution in 2005 and 2008, has not kept pace with current planting costs and canopy needs. Planning and Economic Development Director David Engel told the board the resolution is one phase of a two-part effort; staff will return with a tree preservation ordinance this fall. Principal planner Amanda Hill summarized the staff proposal to remove several project-type discounts and raise the base contribution.

Under the adopted resolution, the standard contribution rate rises from $50 per inch of trunk diameter to $75 per inch for most trees. A new higher rate of $150 per inch will apply to trees designated as "heritage" trees: the resolution defines heritage trees as live oaks 34 inches or larger and southern magnolias 24 inches or larger with a condition rating of "good or better" using the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA)…