Council approves removal of two historic live oaks for new house at 226 Mansion Boulevard, 4–1

The DeBary City Council voted 4–1 to permit removal of two trees designated as historic live oaks at 226 Mansion Boulevard after hearing a staff presentation on arborist measurements and development constraints.

Growth Management Director Steven Bap described the trees as historic by the city’s standard (live oak with trunk DBH near or above 30 inches) and reported that one tree (tree number two, 30.6" DBH) lies within the proposed house footprint and cannot be feasibly relocated. The second tree (tree number five, 30.5" DBH) would be affected by later pool construction; Bap recommended allowing removal of the house-impact tree immediately and conditioning removal of the second tree on submission of a pool permit application.

Council members discussed tree replacement requirements and whether the applicant had done enough to preserve mature specimens. Vice Mayor Butland noted city replacement rules in Chapter 8.7 but said she regretted the loss of mature trees; Council Member Papalardo said he would not stop the construction of a single-family house over two trees. Council Member Cell cast the single no vote when the motion passed.

The motion permits removal with the stated condition and directs implementation under the city’s tree replacement and landscaping code. Staff said only two trees on the parcel met the historic-tree threshold and that several smaller specimen trees would be removed as part of the project but are below the historic threshold.

The vote resolves a local development permit question but leaves replacement and mitigation obligations to the code enforcement and building-permit process.