Woodstock council waives $500 fine for unpermitted tree removal at 897 Keystone Drive

The Woodstock Mayor and Council voted on May 12 to waive a $500 civil penalty levied for unpermitted removal of protected trees at 897 Keystone Drive, a lot in the Vista Ridge subdivision.

City planner Cameron Dunn told the council the Land Development Ordinance requires permits for removal of trees over 3 inches in caliper and allows homeowners to remove up to five protected trees per calendar year with an approved permit; trees considered dead or dying are exempt. Staff reported nine trees had been removed at the site, ranging from about 7 to 18 inches in caliper. Under the ordinance, the civil penalty for removing protected trees without a permit is $500; staff recommended the council maintain the fine.

Lila Sabellonis, the homeowner and appellant, told the council she moved to Woodstock in September, had recently had dental surgery and a newborn at home, and believed the contractor had appropriate permits. She said she did not receive HOA notification about tree removal prior to the work and asked for leniency because several of the trees appeared to be dead.

Council members discussed consistency of enforcement and the city's outreach to the declarant and HOA. Staff said the subdivision declarant, Toll Brothers, is working with a management company (Sixes Management) and city staff had asked the declarant to notify homeowners about the permitting process. Several council members said they were inclined to be lenient given the homeowner's new status, the apparent condition of several trees and that the removal was outside the subdivision's buffer areas.

Councilman Aiken moved to waive the fine; Councilman Johnson seconded. The motion carried 5 to 0, with Councilman Wolf absent. The council did not impose additional conditions on the waiver but urged staff to pursue clearer neighborhood outreach and to explore whether enforcement could better identify contractors that work within city limits.