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• • <br />• strengthen tree protection measures <br />To address this issue, staff: <br />• established a `specimen tree' category that recognizes that larger trees deserve, and <br />shall get, special protection, without the need for a formal designation by the BCC <br />(i.e., reasonable efforts must be made to save these trees) <br />• developed a clear statement that efforts are to be made to protect trees; <br />• clarified that for projects other than a single-family home, a tree survey is required; <br />• added language that, for saved trees, tree protection measures must be shown and <br />must ensure that the trees to be saved will survive; and <br />• developed the concept of a Critical Root Zone (CRZ). Based on staff research, the <br />CRZ was defined as a radius from the center of the tree, calculated as 1.5 feet for <br />every inch of diameter at breast height (dbh) of the tree. The calculation of the size <br />of the CRZ has been refined as a result of issues raised at the Public Workshop (see <br />below). <br />By protecting specimen trees and the CRZ of all trees, the County has more assurance that <br />significant trees will be preserved and will maintain viability in the future. <br />• evaluate current penalties and enforcement <br />To address this issue, staff: <br />• added a flat $1,000 per tree penalty for protected trees (trees with a dbh of 4 inches <br />up to and including 30 inches); and <br />• added a flat $5,000 per tree penalty for specimen trees. <br />It should be noted that Florida Statutes limits the maximum monetary penalty that can be <br />assessed by a county or code enforcement board to $5,000 per event. <br />One purpose of monetary penalties is to act as a deterrent. By increasing the penalty and <br />making it a flat fee, as opposed to some range, it is staff's opinion that the deterrent effect <br />will be increased. <br />• provide onsite monitoring during land clearing and tree removal activities <br />To address this issue, staff <br />• concluded that having a staff member on site during tree removal and/or land clearing <br />activities was impractical due to the large number of ongoing projects and limited <br />staff. As an alternative, staff proposed that a Certified Arborist be required to be <br />onsite during these activities. The cost of this would be borne by the developer <br />and/or property owner. <br />Having an arborist with project control authority onsite during land clearing and/or tree <br />removal activities will help eliminate misunderstandings, miscommunication, and <br />accidental tree removal. <br />Summary of issues resulting from Public Workshop <br />1 he Public Workshop produced the following comments (Bold items are issues raised at the <br />workshop; the infoi uiation following the issue is staffs response): <br />• Ordinance needed clarified definition of Protected Trees regarding the size of <br />individual tropical trees. <br />Language was added that clarifies that individual trees within a erouo of tropical trees are <br />protected regardless of the size of the individual tree. <br />JANUARY 22, 2002 <br />-29- <br />