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Brooksville council approves one specimen tree removal permit with conditions, including saving a key live oak
Summary
The council approved a specimen tree removal permit for a small commercial site (Berry Family Properties) with conditions requiring mitigation, arborist verification for natural-cause deaths, and a commitment from the applicant to try to save Tree 367; the vote was 4-0 after public comment urging preservation of live oaks.
The Brooksville City Council voted 4-0 to approve a specimen tree-removal permit (TR2026002) for property owned by Berry Family Properties, after Coastal Engineering representative Ford Manuel explained site constraints and a required drainage configuration that necessitates removal of several live oaks.
Manuel presented a colored site plan showing preserved trees, trees targeted for removal and areas where drainage and a retention/berm configuration required grading that would affect tree root zones. He said the petitioner requested removal of multiple live oaks to accommodate a drainage pond and parking layout for a proposed dental office and asked the council to adopt staff’s recommended conditions; he sought two clarifications to condition 4 so that trees that die from natural causes within five years would not trigger replacement requirements and so the petitioner could work with staff during construction to preserve additional trees and reduce mitigation fees.
Council discussion focused on whether specific large trees could be saved by minor design shifts; Councilman Hallowell pressed to save a 38‑inch live oak (Tree 367). Staff advised that certified-arborist certification should be used to determine whether a tree died from natural causes and that mitigation fee adjustments could be recorded if trees were later preserved during construction. Several residents told council they value Brooksville’s tree canopy and asked the council to require more protection where feasible.
Councilman Hallowell moved to approve the permit with the modifications to record intent to attempt to save Tree 367 and to accept an arborist determination for natural-cause deaths during the five-year survival period; the motion passed by voice vote (4-0). The staff record will be updated to reflect the clarified language about arborist certification and the petitioner’s commitment to work with staff to reduce mitigation obligations if trees can be preserved.
