HomeMy WebLinkAboutFact Sheet 02-05-08 HEPBHISTORIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL PRESERVATION BOARD
FACT SHEET
ADDRESS 4055 SDI 37"' Avenue
PROJECT
DESCRIPTION Application for Certificate of Approval for the removal and relocation of
trees to accommodate new construction within an Environmental
Preservation District and along a Scenic Transportation Corridor.
BACKGROUND
ANALYSIS
TREE REPLACEMENT
PLAN
This applicant came before the HEP Board on June 6, 2006. Their
project, which was approved by this board, included the installation of a
masonry wall with metal louvers, the building of a guardhouse and gates
and the removal and mitigation of some trees towards the front of the
property (near Douglas Road).
This application brings back the entrance feature and guard gate and
concierge building for approval. The concierge building is set back almost
30' from the road way and is an extension of the guard house and gate
entrance feature. There is also a slight modification to the design from
the originally approved design, that being a modification to the wide
louver system to a shorter series of louvers. This allows more use of the
oolite stone as a material, reducing the amount of metal on the walls.
The rendering that is shown on the cover of the application does not
match the elevation drawings on Sheet A2.0. This would need to be
addressed before staff can make a recommendation on it.
This application also includes the removal and relocation of several trees
in order to accommodate a proposed PUD (Planned Unit Development)
which would consist of 11 parcels for homesites, two of them located on
Biscayne Bay and 9 of the sites situated on the northern side of the
property.
The tree replacement table can be found on Sheet LA-06. A total of 27
trees are listed as "Trees to be Removed." However, Staff previously
approved a COA to remove 5 of these trees because they were dead.
The remaining 22 trees have a combined DBH of 369." The replacement
schedule requires 123 replacement trees (if they are 12' high and 2" dbh)
OR 62 replacement trees (if they are 16' high and 4" dbh).
There are a total of 272 replacement trees, which would more than cover
the required replacement, except that some of the trees do not comply
with the required height and dbh (diameter at breast height). For
example, the 158 proposed Jamaican Capers are only 6'-8' high, and the
8 Crabwoods are only 6'-8'. These do not meet the replacement
requirements.
item #7
February 5, 2008
CONCERNS ABOUT
ROADWAY PLACEMENT
Staff feels that the proposed placement of the road will severely alter the
natural site drainage and the depressions occurring around the existing
trees. Aithoaugh the applicant has redesigned the roadway several times
from the inception of this project, there is still concern that the roadway
construction will severely harm existing trees that are proposed to
remain.
It is also a preferred planning practice for future horne sites to abut the
back yards of existing homes: in this case, the homes to the south, in lieu
of a roadway.
PLANNING
ADVISORY BOARD (PAB)
RECOMMENDATION This application appeared before the Planning Advisory Board an
January 16, 2008, The PAB is not recommending approval of the project
based on a 4 to 4 tie vote.
COMPLIANCE WITH
ORDINANCES
Douglas Road is a Scenic Transportation Corridor, and this property is an
Environmental Preservation District. It is regulated under Chapter 17,
Environmental Preservation.
Section 17-27 of Chapter 17 says that it is the intent of the article to:
"(1) To preserve and protect trees and other significant environmental
features within the city, and
(2) To require that the design and construction of all development activity
be executed in a manner consistent with the preservation of trees and
other significant environmental features to the greatest extent possible."
(Emphasis added.)
Additionally, Section 17-34, Criteria and conditions for tree removal,
states:
"No permit shall be issued for tree removal from the site, unless one of
the following conditions exists:
1. The tree is located in the buildable area or yard area where a
structure or improvement may be placed and unreasonably restricts the
permitted use of the property:
2. The tree is diseased, injured or in danger of falling, interferes
with utility service, creates unsafe vision clearance or conflicts with other
provisions of the Code;
3. It is in the general welfare of the public that the tree be removed
for a reason other than set forth above.
Sheet LA-01 and LA-02 are the two sheets which show the tree survey
for the entire property. (The property runs from Douglas Road straight out
to Biscayne Bay.) It is clear from the survey that the majority of the trees
and the tree clusters are located on the southern side of the property.
Therefore. staff feels that the least intrusive place for the roadway to be
placed would be on the north side of the property.
Item #7
February 5, 2008
KAMPONG
PROPERTY The property immediately adjacent to the north side of the proposed
Grove Estates property is &so an Environmental Preservation District.
The Kampong is part of the National Tropical Botanical Garden, and is
the former home of David Fairchild. While the Kampong does not
oppose development of the Grove Estates site, they would like for the
roadway to be on the north side, adjacent to them, so as not to have
backyard activities immediately upon them.
RECOMMENDATION
The Preservation Officer recommends that the application be continued,
so that the applicant may revise the proposal in order to fully comply with
the Environmental Preservation ordinance and to try and mitigate the
effects on the neighboring EPD.
item #7
February 5, 2088