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Code board postpones tree‑removal hearing for 6213 South Queensway Drive to Aug. 12
Summary
The Municipal Code Enforcement Board postponed a tree‑removal hearing after the city’s arborist presented aerial photos and the property owner said she has receipts and an arborist letter to substantiate when trees were removed. The board allowed time for additional evidence to be submitted.
The City of Temple Terrace Municipal Code Enforcement Board on July 8 postponed a hearing on an alleged, unpermitted removal of oak trees at 6213 South Queensway Drive to Aug. 12, 2026.
Officer Danielle Batt of Code Compliance presented the case and said the city’s evidence shows six or seven oaks were removed without the required permit. Joe Ferris, identified in the hearing as a city arborist, described aerial imagery and a current boundary survey that show several trees missing from the rear yard and recommended one‑for‑one replacement with approved shade trees; he said fines can be up to $5,000 per tree under the city code but noted he lacked trunk‑diameter measurements because stumps were gone when he inspected the site.
The respondent, Marisol Torres, told the board she bought the property about seven months earlier and that three trees had already been removed when she moved in. Torres’ representative said the owner has an arborist letter dated April 29, 2026, and has purchased and planted several replacement trees; Torres agreed to provide receipts and photographs. Ferris told the board the arborist letter would not satisfy mitigation rules if it was created after the trees were removed; he asked for an invoice showing the date the removal work was performed so the board could determine whether the arborist report applied.
Committee member (speaker 3) moved to postpone the case to the board’s Aug. 12 meeting to allow the respondent to supply invoices, photos and the arborist documentation; the motion carried. The board directed the respondent to file the documentary evidence with the legislative assistant and to bring printed copies to the Aug. 12 hearing.
Next steps: the case will be reheard Aug. 12; if the additional evidence confirms the removals occurred before the statutory cutoff for an arborist exemption, the board will assess fines and required mitigation consistent with city code.
