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City adopts first-reading amendments to landscape code, adds dune management and tree‑preservation updates
Summary
The commission approved amendments to landscape and tree-preservation sections of the zoning code, adding coastal dune mitigation standards, updated tree‑mitigation provisions, root‑barrier requirements and other landscaping best practices.
The City Commission on April 8 approved on first reading a broad package of amendments to the city's landscape and tree-protection code that add standards for coastal-dune management, clarify tree-mitigation rules and introduce several landscape industry best practices.
Planner Max Weems said the changes incorporate industry standards and Broward County best practices to make approvals more consistent and to reduce repeated review cycles. Changes include: requiring certified arborist appraisals when a permit application proposes tree removal or relocation; creating administrative adjustment authority for vehicular‑use-area landscaping (with minimum depth thresholds); allowing clustered palms as an alternative on older properties where canopy trees are infeasible; specifying root-barrier systems near paving to reduce pavement lift; and, importantly, establishing a new private-property dune mitigation standard to be reviewed in partnership with Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) guidance.
Lee Gottlieb, a coastal-dune practitioner who has worked on several local restoration projects, told the commission the dune initiative helps the city obtain local oversight of dune work and avoid inconsistent approvals solely through state review. Commissioners asked staff to ensure the dune standards specify acceptable sand quality, vegetation mixes and planting densities and to include clear rules for walkovers and hard-surface access paths.
The ordinance also clarifies calculation methods for mitigation replacement or relocation, differentiates between canopy and specimen tree mitigation and requires bubblers (localized irrigation) for new tree installations to improve survivability.
The measure passed first reading on a 5–1 vote (Commissioner Seegerson Eaton cast the lone no). Staff said the changes are intended to reduce permit delays and to provide clearer, enforceable standards for private and development projects that affect dunes and significant trees.
Ending: Staff will finalize ordinance language and return for second reading; commissioners asked staff to coordinate with FDEP and the county and to provide a public outreach plan about dune protection.
