Residents raise tree‑canopy and stormwater concerns as replat for 0 Seminole Road is deferred

Residents and commissioners sparred over development and tree protection at the Atlantic Beach City Commission meeting on May 11.

Two residents who said they live near the site scheduled for a replat at 0 Seminole Road urged the commission to reconsider allowing an increased density that they said would remove mature trees and worsen local drainage. "We're supposed to be the Tree City USA, but every time I turn around, we're cutting down more trees," said Roy Schleicher, who described the parcel as a maritime forest with live oaks he estimated to be 100–200 years old. Schleicher also described local wildlife — "foxes, owls, hawks" — that he said are losing habitat as nearby lots are developed.

Ellen Glasser, who said she lives on Beach Avenue a few lots north of the property, told commissioners staff and the community have seen changes in lot-width rules that may permit more houses. "The minimum lot size was reduced from 75 foot width to 40 foot width along Beach Avenue," she said, and noted that what previously would have been one house could now become four. Glasser said she provided photos of existing drainage problems and warned that infilling and raised lots could increase runoff and cause foundation or basement failures; she asked the commission to send the application back to the Community Development Board for further review of stormwater compliance.

Mayor Curtis Ford announced the replat application (Plat25-0002) was not on the meeting agenda and will be deferred and renoticed for May 26; speakers were told they would have another opportunity to comment then.

At the same meeting, city staff signaled an administrative response. The city manager's office said staff intends to present a draft ordinance by June 8 that would prioritize immediate protection of old‑growth maritime forest and iconic live oaks as the first phase of a two‑phase tree‑protection plan. Staff asked the commission to provide any alternative direction by the May 26 meeting. "We intend to automatically designate maritime forest trees — perhaps limited to live oaks — over a certain diameter at breast height as protected landmark trees," staff said.

Why it matters: The residents' concerns link the specific replat to a broader city effort to craft tree protections and to ongoing stormwater challenges on low lots along Beach Avenue. Commissioners and staff emphasized the need to balance rapid protective action for large heritage trees with a follow‑up comprehensive rewrite of chapter 23 of the municipal code.

Next steps: The replat for 0 Seminole Road is renoticed for May 26. Staff has signaled a draft ordinance on tree protection to be available for commission consideration by June 8, and asked for direction at the May 26 meeting if the commission seeks changes to the approach.