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Residents tell planning board proposed South 13th Street subdivision will reduce tree canopy and worsen stormwater
Summary
Public commenters urged the board to protect tree canopy and questioned tree‑count and mitigation procedures for the La Vie Amelia project; staff said an independent arborist performed the inventory and about 43% of canopy would be retained with required mitigation plantings.
Multiple residents spoke at the Planning Advisory Board meeting about tree canopy and stormwater concerns related to the La Vie Amelia preliminary plat.
Margaret Kirkland of Conserv Nassau said the project would remove large amounts of canopy, increase impervious surface and worsen heat and stormwater handling in the neighborhood: "We are already hot as hell in the city, and it's gonna be worse," she told the board. Kirkland asked the board to consider the broader neighborhood impacts rather than treating the parcel in isolation.
Joyce Tutin asked whether the city or an independent arborist counts protected trees and noted her own quick count of roughly 47 shade trees she believed would be removed. Planning staff (Kelly Gibson) replied that the city uses an independent arborist and surveyor to inventory trees and that mitigation is calculated in mitigation inches per lot. Staff said approximately 43% of the existing canopy on the site would be retained and that additional plantings would be required to meet mitigation inches overall.
Applicant Asa Gillette said the team reduced earlier plans from 13 lots to nine, partly to preserve trees and to satisfy drainage and code requirements. The board and staff agreed to provide additional packet materials (variance documents and clearer charts) and to email the tree mitigation tables to board members for follow‑up.
