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Board continues 14 Pelican Street tree‑removal request to secure arborist analysis
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Summary
The Board continued a variance request for 14 Pelican Street to allow time for an independent arborist report on tree health and root impacts, citing insufficient evidence about whether removal would harm other specimen trees or the house; the case was continued without date.
The Hilton Head Island Board of Zoning Appeals voted to continue a variance hearing for 14 Pelican Street to allow time for an arborist evaluation of tree health and potential root‑system impacts.
Town planner Brian Eber told the board the parcel contains multiple specimen live oaks and that the subject tree is about 36 inches in diameter and sits roughly 9 feet from the house. Eber said the town had not received a certified arborist report showing imminent likelihood of failure for this tree; Jones Brothers Tree Service had provided an opinion to staff that the tree appeared healthy.
Owner Daniel Kirchberg said site constraints and the location of other specimen trees outside the building envelope left no practical alternative for siting a proposed 350‑square‑foot pool without removing the identified tree. Neighbors at the hearing expressed concerns: Helen Talthra said trimming rather than removal might allow access to repair the roof, and Craig Cunningham urged consistent treatment across properties given recent clear‑cut lots in the area.
Several board members said they were uncomfortable deciding without an independent arborist assessment that addresses whether removing the tree would damage remaining trees’ root systems or whether the subject tree posed imminent structural danger. Mr. Green moved to continue the item for arborist input; the motion passed by roll call and the case was continued without date. The applicant will coordinate with town staff to reschedule once additional information is received.
Next steps: obtain an arborist report addressing (a) whether the subject tree presents imminent failure risk, (b) how pool excavation would affect the subject and adjacent trees’ root systems, and (c) recommended mitigation or alternative designs.
