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Board upholds DRC on Wekiva Springs tree removals, then cuts penalty to $40,916 citing unique hardship
Summary
The Board of County Commissioners upheld zoning staff and the DRC on an enforcement action over unpermitted tree removal in Wekiva Springs Cove but, after debate, voted 4–3 to reduce the monetary penalty and allow on‑site mitigation options to address the violation.
The Orange County Board of County Commissioners on Tuesday upheld a Development Review Committee decision that found a subdivision developer responsible for unpermitted removal of protected trees, but the board later exercised discretion to lower the financial penalty.
Zoning staff told the board that 20 protected trees (totaling 233 caliper inches) had been removed from an open‑space tract in the Wekiva Springs Cove subdivision and that the removal was not shown on approved tree preservation plans. Because the developer submitted an amendment to the preliminary subdivision plan after the county's new tree ordinance took effect (March 15, 2024), staff said the mitigation and penalty calculations should be applied under the new code. Using…
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