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Environmental advisory board urges rules to protect Melbourne Beach's native canopy; commission OKs planner review
Summary
The Environmental Advisory Board asked the Town Commission to adopt stronger protections for native canopy trees and proposed rules (replacement ratios, a landscape officer, invasive-species removal and fees). Commissioners authorized the town planner to review draft ordinance language and to provide a comparative analysis and memo, authorizing up to $1,000 for the work.
The Melbourne Beach Environmental Advisory Board presented a set of recommended changes to the town's landscaping rules on July 16, urging stricter protections for long-lived native canopy trees and more native plantings in new developments.
Karen Sonati, a member of the board, told the commission the board's proposals would preserve centuries-old live oaks and other native canopy species, increase stormwater mitigation and sustain the town's designation as a bird sanctuary. The board recommended several specific measures: protecting existing canopy trees whenever possible, requiring larger native replacement trees when preservation is not feasible, removing invasive species, and requiring native plantings to make up roughly 70% of new landscape designs.
To enforce the rules and improve compliance, Sonati said the board recommends creating a landscape-officer position, funded through permit fees, to perform on-site inspections and review removal permits. The board also proposed replacement ratios (for example, requiring two oaks to replace certain removed oaks) and a fee schedule for unpermitted removals for identified protected species.
Commissioners asked about legal vulnerability and comparability to neighboring ordinances. Several members said they supported the goals but wanted staff and legal review before language is advertised as an ordinance. Commissioner Tim Reed asked for a comparative analysis of nearby jurisdictions and for a planner's review to confirm the draft aligns with the town's land-development code.
The commission voted to direct the town planner and town attorney to review the Environmental Advisory Board's draft, produce a comparative analysis and a short memo identifying potential legal issues and recommended language. The commission authorized up to $1,000 for that review.
What comes next: staff will provide the planner's memo and comparative analysis to the commission and the public; commissioners signaled they expect a workshop or first-reading draft after that review is complete.
Votes at a glance: The motion to authorize planner review (including up to $1,000 for costs) carried by voice vote.
