ATLANTIC BEACH, Fla. \u2013 A 250-year-old live oak, a landmark in an Atlantic Beach neighborhood, was recently cut down, leaving neighbors saddened and concerned about preserving the city\u2019s historic trees.<\/p>\n
The tree stood at 445 West First St., a property that backs up to the Tide Views Preserve. According to city records, the tree was estimated to be around 240 years old, with a 60-inch diameter at breast height.<\/p>\n
Neighbors expressed their sadness and hope for stronger protections. <\/p>\n
\u201cThis tree was just kind of like a living landmark to our community,\u201d said Erin Sunseri, who lives right across from where the tree stood. \u201cWe\u2019re all pretty sad to see her go.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sunseri said she knows it\u2019s too late to save the live oak.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I was hoping that maybe the community can prevent something like this from happening again,\u201d she said of why she\u2019s speaking out about the tree\u2019s removal.<\/p>\n
The city issued a statement to clarify its role in the tree\u2019s removal:<\/p>\n
\u201cWe understand the value our community places on our canopy, and we wish to provide clarity regarding the city\u2019s role in this process. Due to the tree\u2019s central location on the site, development is not feasible while maintaining the structure. The issuance of this permit was a mandatory administrative formality. Because the applicant met all objective criteria set forth in the current code, staff had no legal alternative but to approve the application. To mitigate this loss, the developer is required to provide more than 54 inches of replacement trees or pay approximately $9,841.88 into the City\u2019s Tree Protection Fund to support reforestation efforts elsewhere \u2013 or a proportional combination of both.\u201d<\/p>\n
Atlantic Beach Mayor Curtis Ford acknowledged the legal process but empathized with neighbors. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve actually already begun discussions on how do we take measures as a city to really look at those significant old growth trees like live oaks, and are there code changes that we could entertain that would give some additional protection without being overbearing?\u201d Ford said.<\/p>\n
Ford said the city is reviewing tree ordinances from other Florida cities to explore stronger protections for Atlantic Beach\u2019s trees.<\/p>\n
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