Brookhaven Board of Appeals defers decision on Mayfair Drive specimen-tree removal

The City of Brookhaven Board of Appeals on Oct. 15 granted a 60-day deferral for VAR25-00028, a request to remove a specimen tree at 1307 Mayfair Drive, and rescheduled the matter for the Nov. 19 meeting to allow the applicant to meet with the city arborist and explore alternatives.

Builder and applicant Houston Feaster told the board he acquired the Mayfair Drive lot last fall and that the site contains a 38-inch pine on his property and a neighboring 52-inch magnolia whose critical root zone substantially overlaps his front yard. Feaster said his site engineer had advised there might be no feasible way to build an approved house without removing the tree, but that he would meet with the city arborist to explore other options and requested a 60-day deferral.

Staff recommended the deferral; the chair reminded the board that the legal standard for a specimen-tree removal variance requires a high showing that the property has no economic value absent the variance. Several community comments had been received (mostly in opposition, staff said). The board voted to defer the item to Nov. 19 with no conditions beyond requesting further consultation and return with outcomes of arborist discussions.

The applicant said he preferred deferral rather than proceeding to an immediate decision and is meeting staff to explore whether the tree can be preserved while making the lot buildable or whether a mitigation approach is feasible.