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Commission denies setback waiver for 215 2nd Avenue North amid tree‑canopy and plan‑specific concerns
Summary
A proposed waiver to reduce a secondary front‑yard setback from 15 to 9 feet for a subdivided lot at 215 2nd Avenue North was denied 5–0 after neighbors and the city arborist raised concerns about preservation‑quality oaks, missing pruning affidavits, and the absence of final site plans.
The Safety Harbor City Commission unanimously denied a setback waiver request for 215 2nd Avenue North on Dec. 15, following extensive public comment about tree canopy, incomplete design plans and the absence of site specifics.
Senior planner Cecilia Chen presented a conceptual plan to split an existing parcel into three lots and asked that a secondary front yard on the corner lot be treated with a 9‑foot side‑yard standard instead of the 15‑foot front‑yard requirement. Applicant Steven Digiovani said the waiver would allow single‑story homes, which he argued could be less intrusive than two‑story alternatives.
Neighbors and members of the public urged caution, noting several preservation‑quality live oaks on the property and recounting unpermitted limb removal during demolition. City arborist James Ryan said the trees are in good condition and that pruning of large limbs requires a certified arborist’s pruning affidavit; he confirmed paperwork had not been filed for some trimming. Commissioners debated tabling for a site plan versus outright denial and determined the application lacked sufficient specificity; the motion to deny passed 5–0.
