Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Pasco adopts stronger tree protections and sets $10,000-per-acre mitigation cap, preserves extra fee for heritage oaks
Summary
The board adopted a comprehensive update to the county tree code and revised the tree mitigation fund. The ordinance raises protections for specified heritage trees, moves contribution rates into a resolution, and the board set a $10,000 per‑upland‑developable‑acre mitigation cap while keeping higher fees for heritage trees above the cap.
The Pasco County Board adopted revisions to Chapter 802 of the Land Development Code that increase protections for tree canopy, clarify when palms can substitute for shade trees, and create clearer standards for tree preservation incentives and mitigation.
Amanda Hill, principal planner, presented the code changes and a walk‑on edit intended to close a potential loophole in the preservation incentives. Key changes include new canopy‑preservation language, clarified spacing and replacement rules for ponds and buffers, and an explicit definition for heritage trees (live oaks 34 inches and greater and southern magnolias 24 inches and greater, in good condition).
The board considered a companion resolution that governs the tree mitigation fund's contribution rates and authorized uses. Under the adopted resolution, the baseline contribution rate…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
