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Advisory board presses city to reconsider some recommended species, protect historic trees and clarify mangrove trimming rules
Summary
Board members urged removing category-2 species from recommended street/roadway plant lists, sought a clear definition of 'historic' trees and asked the city to address mangrove trimming in code updates.
During discussion of the landscape code, a board member raised concerns about recommended species lists and the inclusion of category-2 plants such as coconut palms.
"I would strongly suggest to not sanction category 2 plantings," the member said, arguing that category-2 status can be a prelude to greater disease vulnerability. Members also urged the city to discourage use of cypress mulch because of conservation concerns and asked for clarity on the code's use of the term "historic" when applied to trees.
Tony Palermo said staff will accept species-specific suggestions from the board and that the code can be amended to remove or replace species if evidence shows they are problematic. He also said the comprehensive-plan rewrite offers an opportunity to add protections that will be implemented through the land-development code.
Board members asked about mangrove trimming rules and whether trimming (as opposed to removal) would be addressed; Palermo said mangroves are an important local resource and that trimming and protection have been matters of interest in nearby jurisdictions such as Sanibel and Lee County.
