HomeMy WebLinkAboutAnalysis and ReportCITY OF MIAMI
BUILDING DEPARTMENT
ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES
Staff Report & Recommendations
To: Members of the City Commission
From: Quatisha Oguntoyinbo-Rashad
Chief of Environmental Resources
Applicant: City of Miami Resilience and Public Works
Appellant: Ms. Penny Tannenbaum
Subject Property: 1750 South Bayshore Lane (median)
Permit Application: PWO 22-247
ANALYSIS:
January 5, 2023
Staff: QR
The subject area is the median along South Bayshore Lane, north of Fair Isle Street
and with an approximate size of 420' x 8'. The vegetation in the median consists
of five (5) Royal palms, fifteen (15) Sabal palms, and a variety of smaller palms,
shrubs, and groundcover. The vegetation in this median is under the management
and maintenance of the City of Miami.
The Environmental Resources Division is in receipt of a Tree Permit application
for the removal of the five (5) Royal palms located within said median.
The Resilience and Public Works' Tree Risk Assessment Qualified and ISA
Certified Arborist conducted a site visit, on November 14, 2022, to inspect the
conditions of the median in response to a resident's inquiry regarding the safety
and maintenance of the median. As a result of this inspection, staff identified five
(5) Royal palms that posed a safety risk to pedestrians, vehicles, and property due
to their height, confined planting space and the weight of their fronds and the
velocity at which they fall. Of these five (5) palms, two (2) were found to also be
creating a site visibility obstruction at both ends of the median. Due to their sizes,
the palms were not viable candidates for relocation and the palms remaining were
not in the best interest of the public health, safety and welfare of the city.
Therefore, removal and replacement was the only viable option to maintain public
safety.
During the 15-day Intended Decision, the palms were removed. For such incident,
the required tree replacement is ten (10) 2" DBH x 12' HT trees or twenty (20)
palms or a combination of both equating to 20" DBH. The tree replacement being
provided is eight (8) Sabal palms and 6-12 hardwoods trees (equating to 12" DBH)
within the median.
January 5, 2023
Staff: QR
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
The Preservation Officer recommends that the appeal of the Tree Removal Permit
be denied, in accordance with the requirements set forth in Chapter 17 of the City
Code.
Resilience and Public Works Department
Arborist Evaluation- Median -Between 1750 South Bayshore Lane
and 1828 South Bayshore Lane, Miami FI 33133
Tree #1
Tree #2 & Tree #3
Tree #4
Tree #5
Target and Site: Primary Street in a residential area; (5) five Royal palm trees are growing within the median. Target:
pedestrians (constant), Traffic (constant), and parked cars (constant).
Conditions: Common Name: Royal Palm /Botanical Name: Roystonea regia. Tree #1 DBH: 20.2" /Height: 36'/ Spread: 22'
Tree #2 DBH: 22" /Height: 38'/ Spread: 25'- Tree #3 DBH: 23" /Height: 38'/ Spread: 25' - Tree #4 DBH: 21" /Height: 34'/
Spread: 18' - Tree #5 DBH: 17" /Height: 32'/ Spread: 17'. The palms are growing within a narrow median located in a
neighborhood with constant traffic flow. The palms have outgrown their current location and pose a potential hazard
created by the falling fronds to both pedestrians and vehicular traffic below. Additionally, 2 of the palms located at the
end of the medians currently obstruct traffic from the intersection which may pose a potential hazard. The Roystonea
fronds are currently very large, are close to 30 feet in length, and can possibly weigh up to 60 pounds. Given the current
height of the palms, the weight of the fronds, and the velocity at which they fall we deem this to be a potential hazard
and sufficient reasoning for requesting their removal. Due to the infrequent maintenance needed to safely keep the
Royal Palms, we are respectfully requesting that the palms be removed and replaced. The Palms will be replaced with a
plant material that will encompass a more suitable landscape for the location.
Recommendation: The Department of Resilience and Public Works is respectfully requesting the removal of the trees (5).
Raphael Gonzalez
FL-5827-A
INSPECTION DATE11/14/2022
INSPECTED BY: RAPHAEL GONZALEZ