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Planning commission backs tighter tree-protection rules; recommends it to council
Summary
The commission unanimously recommended to Town Council amendments to the Land Management Ordinance that lower tree-size thresholds for live and laurel oaks, expand mitigation plant-back sizes, and remove a single-family exemption for specimen trees.
The Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend a set of priority amendments aimed at strengthening tree protection in the Land Management Ordinance. Missy Louick, director of planning, told commissioners the package lowers the size at which live oak and laurel oak specimen trees are protected (staff cited a specimen threshold reduced to 5 inches), reduces thresholds for significant live oaks (a 4-inch reduction for single-trunk specimens and a 7-inch reduction for multi-trunk specimens), expands the native plant list, increases mitigation (plant-back) sizes across four mitigation categories, and strikes the single-family exemption for specimen trees so protections apply island-wide.
Louick said the amendments respond to continuing concerns about tree cutting and are intended to support the comprehensive plan’s natural-resource goals and the community’s environmental values. Commissioners asked how removals will be implemented; staff confirmed an arborist report is required to approve tree removal and that property owners without an arborist report must seek a variance from the Board of Zoning Appeals. Staff noted the amendment would not create additional nonconformities and includes standard text-amendment review criteria.
Commissioner Hensley moved to recommend approval as presented; Vice Chair Campbell seconded. The commission voted unanimously to forward the amendment to Town Council for final action.
