Planners table request to remove large oaks at 31 Ocean Court until June

The Planning and Zoning Board of the City of St. Augustine Beach on May 20 moved an application to remove trees at 31 Ocean Court to the end of the agenda and ultimately tabled the item to the June meeting after the applicant did not attend.

Board staff described the property as a heavily wooded lot and said the application would remove a 30-inch and 38-inch oak in the front yard and a 32-inch oak and other trees in the rear. Several board members asked whether the house footprint could be mirrored or shifted to avoid removing the two large front oaks and whether the 28-inch oak in the back that was marked for removal needed a permit. Because the applicant was not present to answer those questions, a board member suggested tabling the matter until the applicant could attend; later in the meeting the board voted to continue the item to the June meeting.

The board did not take a substantive vote on the removal request and did not issue any permits. Staff said the applicant would be notified of the continuance. The board’s action preserves the trees while the applicant prepares to address questions about the site plan and potential modifications that might save the larger oaks.

The rescheduling means neighbors and the applicant will have another opportunity to present additional site information and for the board to consider alternatives to tree removal when the item returns in June.