BZA denies homeowner’s request to remove 36‑inch live oak at 14 Pelican Street

The Town of Hilton Head Island Board of Zoning Appeals on a 4–1 vote denied a homeowner’s variance to remove a 36‑inch live oak that the owner said was in the preferred location for a swimming pool and deck.

Board members cited certified arborist findings and the availability of alternate pool locations when they voted to deny variance 000251‑2026. Brian Eber, the town’s principal planner, told the board staff had received a written arborist report and that two arborists who examined the tree did not report it as dead, decaying or diseased.

A board member reading the motion summarized staff and arborist findings and the Land Management Ordinance standard protecting specimen trees. The motion said that “based upon the report of a certified arborist, the BCA concludes that the 36‑in live oak tree on this particular piece of property does not present an imminent danger requiring removal at this time” and noted that the homeowner and contractor acknowledged a smaller pool could be built elsewhere on the lot.

The homeowner’s representative confirmed he had shown the site to board members and identified the arborist who prepared the written report. An earlier phone opinion by another arborist was noted but was not submitted as a written report.

The vote to deny the variance was recorded as 4 in favor of denial and 1 opposed. The board did not grant permission to remove the specimen tree, so the owner will not be authorized to remove the 36‑inch live oak as proposed. No further administrative action about this variance was recorded at the meeting.

The board moved on to a separate variance request for a commercial recreation use later in the same session.