Commission discusses Tree Canopy Replacement Grant, residents seek flexibility for HOAs

The Coconut Creek City Commission reviewed and discussed a proposed Tree Canopy Replacement Grant on March 13, 2025, focusing on program guidelines, how the city's rules compare with Broward County's code, and options for homeowners associations facing widespread tree loss.

The grant would be funded from the Tree Preservation Trust Fund and uses replacement categories and payment examples included in staff backup materials. Linda Whitman, the city's sustainability manager, summarized changes staff made after additional review with Broward County and said the city clarified language and added example scenarios showing how funding would apply: the program either covers required canopy replacement or, for one-to-one replacements, pays 50% of the cost, with categories listed in staff materials (category sizes cited in the discussion were 300, 150, 100 and 50 square feet). Staff also explained catastrophic or multi-tree scenarios would be treated…