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 under a higher category with higher maximum assistance.

The program prompted detailed public comment and questions from commissioners and residents. Tammy Littery (3302 Karen Bullis Circle South) thanked staff for the work but asked for more leniency, citing economic strain on residents and asking whether permits already issued could be combined into a single application; staff replied combining multiple trees on a single grant application would be possible if they qualify. Multiple Crescent Creek speakers — including HOA representatives George Castillo and Eric Brinkman — told commissioners that strict canopy-replacement calculations and limited planting space in many neighborhoods make one-for-one canopy replacement impractical and costly; they asked for allowances when front-yard space cannot physically accommodate the calculated replacement canopy.

Commissioners and staff discussed alternatives and program-adjacent tools. Staff noted two existing options outside the grant: the Neighborhood Enhancement Grant (which can reimburse a portion of a communitywide redesign) and an administrative waiver in the landscape code that allows selection of a different tree category when a like-for-like replacement is infeasible. Commissioners asked staff to more clearly explain appeal and interpretation processes; the sustainable development director said the director's office makes final determinations under the program, informed by the city’s certified arborist and landscape staff, and residents may submit their own arborist reports for consideration.

Officials and residents raised tree-disease issues and catastrophic removals in several neighborhoods, including mention of Ganoderma and lethal bronzing affecting palms. Staff said disease scenarios would fall into the catastrophic category and could warrant higher grant support; staff also said city landscape staff are monitoring and testing some palms and working with property owners. Commissioners and residents urged faster outreach and site visits, and Vice Mayor Railey and others recommended education about root barriers and alternative species to reduce future infrastructure damage.

Action and next steps: the ordinance/resolution creating the program was moved for consideration by Vice Mayor Railey and seconded by Commissioner Brody. The transcript does not include an explicit roll-call result for final adoption of the resolution in the excerpt provided; final vote details and any implementing procedures were referenced as subject to the program guidelines in the staff report and future administrative steps.

Commissioners asked staff to return with clarifying language and to coordinate outreach to HOAs and affected neighborhoods; staff said they expect early applicants would include communities already working with city staff and that staff will provide application assistance.