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Homestead LPA advances landscaping ordinance requiring tree inspections, ties fees to Miami‑Dade schedule
Summary
The City of Homestead Local Planning Agency on April 22 approved forwarding a landscaping ordinance that creates a one‑year post‑certificate‑of‑occupancy inspection, a three‑year recertification cycle for planted trees and landscaping, and adopts Miami‑Dade County fee rates for the city tree fund.
The City of Homestead Local Planning Agency on April 22 advanced a proposed ordinance to strengthen landscaping standards and create a tree recertification program, the agency said at a brief hearing.
City staff presented Addendum 1 as a first reading to amend Chapter 29 (vegetation and landscaping) to establish minimum landscaping standards for multifamily, commercial and industrial developments, and to clarify tree preservation permit fees and contributions to the tree preservation trust fund. Mr. Pearl introduced the ordinance and described the changes as code updates to implement the City of Homestead Landscaping Manual alongside Miami‑Dade County standards.
The director said the revised manual condenses the county guidance ‘‘to the parts that are more relevant and more important, especially for small businesses and homeowners,’’ and that the ordinance would add a recertification requirement. ‘‘One year after the property gets a CO, they get an inspection to certify that all the trees that were proper and that were planted at the time of the certificate of occupancy are there and in good health. And then every three years, we’ll do the same inspection to verify that the number of trees and the condition of the landscaping is upkept,’’ the director said.
Staff also told the Local Planning Agency that the ordinance would establish permit fees and tree‑fund contribution rates consistent with those used by Miami‑Dade County; the director said fees had previously not been specified in the local code section. The changes would provide an enforcement mechanism tied to certification and recertification of landscaping.
The presiding officer opened the public hearing and asked for comments; no substantive public testimony was recorded on the transcript. Councilman Roth moved to place the item on the regular council agenda; Councilman Fletcher seconded. The motion carried on a voice vote and the LPA forwarded the ordinance for further consideration by the City Council.
If adopted by the council, the ordinance would require property owners and developers to demonstrate ongoing landscape maintenance through periodic inspections and would fund tree‑related mitigation through the city’s tree preservation fund, using a fee schedule aligned with Miami‑Dade County. The regular council agenda will include fuller staff materials and an opportunity for additional review.
