Council weighs stricter penalties for unlawful clearing, seeks seawall policy for canal lots

Landscape and environmental staff proposed Chapter 11 updates that emphasize native and drought‑tolerant plantings, clarified tree‑credit and replacement ratios, required smart irrigation controllers, and proposed an enforcement path (replanting and irrigation obligations) for unauthorized clearing.

Councilors focused on enforcement and deterrence: members asked staff to examine models used by other jurisdictions (St. Johns County was raised as an example) that levy stiff fines for unlawful clearing. One counselor recommended studying a per‑acre penalty to deter persistent removal of canopy that leaves neighbors exposed.

Seawalls and canal erosion: Councilors also debated whether to require seawalls on undeveloped saltwater canal lots rather than rely solely on enforcement after-the-fact. Staff agreed to return with counts of vacant canal lots, a legal analysis of whether mandatory seawalls might constitute a takings exposure, and options for phased implementation or financial support.

Other code changes: Staff also proposed longer permitted garage footprints (to help residents store boats/RVs out of sight), codified prior land‑use interpretations for boathouse roof materials and front‑yard mechanical equipment (with screening), and suggested limits on accessory structure size tied to the primary dwelling.

Next steps: Staff will compare county and peer municipality enforcement regimes, return with potential penalty ranges, and supply a legal opinion about seawall mandates and options for canal‑front vacant lots.