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Neptune Beach board permits removal of 30‑inch heritage magnolia with mitigation and planting conditions
Summary
The Neptune Beach Community Development Board approved removal of a 30‑inch Southern magnolia so a property owner can build a single‑story home, but conditioned the approval on doubling the code mitigation fee and an arborist‑approved replanting plan tied to the building permit and certificate of occupancy.
Neptune Beach — The Community Development Board voted 6–1 to allow the removal of a 30‑inch‑diameter Southern magnolia at 242 Driftwood Road, but only after the property owner agreed to pay mitigation and meet an arborist‑approved replanting plan before receiving a certificate of occupancy.
Planning staff recommended denial, saying the requested removal was "not consistent with the land development code or the comp plan." Heather Whitmore, who presented the staff report, told the board the magnolia is the only heritage tree on the lot and that the comprehensive plan prioritizes preserving tree canopy and natural features.
Applicant Brian Nicholas said the house that previously stood on the lot was demolished because it was unsafe and that his proposed roughly 3,000–3,500…
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