Tampa variance board approves removal of one live oak, denies removal of second at East Tampa commercial site

The City of Tampa Variance Review Board on Feb. 11 voted to allow removal of one preservation-quality live oak (identified as G7) at 5112 N. 20th St. while denying removal of a nearby live oak (G6).

Board members and staff reviewed three alternate site plans the applicant proposed to balance required parking, trash-truck access and tree protection. Those alternatives ranged from preserving both trees (which reduced the site to as few as 41–44 spaces) to preserving only one and removing the other to meet the project’s need for viable parking for a restaurant tenant.

Natural Resources had designated the two trees as preservation‑quality live oaks. Per the applicant’s submittal, G6 is listed at 36 inches diameter at breast height (DBH) with a B7 condition rating and a mitigation value of 27 replacement trees; G7 is listed at 37 inches DBH with a B8 condition rating and a mitigation value of 23 Type 1 trees.

Sam Arraf, the applicant’s representative, told the board the team prepared three alternatives and said the preferred plan preserves the larger live oak to the west while removing the northern tree that would be repeatedly impacted by trash‑truck circulation. “The third alternative, which is the preferred alternative, is that we preserve the tree at the entrance and then remove the tree that will be impacted by the trash truck,” Arraf said during his presentation.

Board members discussed the legal standard for tree removal variances and whether the site could be reasonably reconfigured to preserve both trees. Board member Todd Fultz said he supported the third alternative and the applicant’s effort to save at least one tree. Fultz moved to approve removal of G7 based on the petitioner meeting the burden of proof under the cited provision of the city code, and the motion passed by voice vote. The board then voted on removal of G6 and denied that portion of the request after finding the petitioner had alternative 3 as a reconfigurable option and therefore had not met the hardship standard for that tree.

Natural Resources staff and the project’s civil engineer discussed parking requirements in the East Tampa overlay that allow up to a 10% parking reduction via bicycle parking (one vehicle stall per five bicycle slots) and a 25% reduction if two buildings are combined. The applicant and staff also discussed pursuing a design exception during permitting to further reduce required stalls if needed to preserve tree protection areas.

The board recorded both formal actions on the record: an approval to remove one preservation live oak (G7) and a denial to remove the other (G6). The applicant said he would revise the site plan to preserve the additional 33‑inch live oak on the southwest side of the site and work with staff on parking reductions and any design exception through permitting.

The board’s decision was limited to what was presented on the site plans and the record; any permitting, design exceptions or mitigation plantings will be reviewed by staff at permitting as required by city code.