Safety Harbor halts tree removal after outcry

SAFETY HARBOR In a city where trees large or small are considered prized possessions, city commissioners have imposed a temporary ban on all new tree-removal permits.

Commissioners voted 4-0 Monday to approve a moratorium that will extend until April 1, if needed. The temporary ban gives commissioners time to revamp their existing tree ordinance to protect more of the citys tree canopy and to bring all tree permitting in-house.

Safety Harbor adopted a grand tree ordinance in 2007, which protects trees that meet certain requirements. Through an interlocal agreement, all tree permits other than grand trees currently are processed by Pinellas County. But city commissioners decided last spring that what they have isnt enough. They want the city staff to draft a new tree ordinance that:

Expands the definition of grand trees.

Charges higher fees for tree removal.

Imposes stiffer fines for violators.

Requires removed trees to be replaced with like species of similar size.

Approves hiring or identifying a city employee to handle education, enforcement and permitting.

The proposed revisions to the tree ordinance picked up steam in September after the privately owned Safety Harbor Resort and Spa removed some 14 trees on its property for a planned parking lot. The tree removal was permitted through the county, officials said.

But that didnt stop infuriated residents from picketing the resort, then marching up Main Street to attend the commissions workshop meeting regarding the tree ordinance.

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Safety Harbor halts tree removal after outcry