Officials: Bill threatens level of tree protection

The streets of Winter Park, Windermere, Sanford, Leesburg and 14 other Central Florida cities and towns are draped in the lush foliage that led each to be named a “Tree City USA.”

But a bill filed by a Sarasota state senator could dramatically change city streetscapes if it becomes law.

The legislation (SB 574), filed by Republican state Sen. Greg Steube of Sarasota — itself a Tree City — would strip cities and counties of the ability to create protections for trees on private property.

“This bill would make it a fact that no city or town in Florida could ever be a Tree City,” said Windermere Mayor Gary Bruhn, president of the Florida League of Mayors, who said the group will oppose it when the legislative session begins in January. “I think it’s an absolute travesty, quite frankly.”

The legislation would “preempt to the state” any regulation about “trimming, removal, or harvesting” trees and timber on private property. It would also prevent cities or counties from stopping landowners from removing trees or requiring them to replant trees for every one they cut down.

Steube, whose office did not return requests for comment, told the Sarasota Herald-Tribune he was annoyed when he learned he had to get a permit to cut down trees and haul away the debris to build a three-car garage. His bill does not have an equivalent filed in the House.

City officials in Central Florida said the bill’s potential Gary Bruhn, president of the Florida League of Mayors effects could result widespread destruction trees.

Bruhn said Windermere worked with developers of one subdivision to save as many native palms and oaks as possible. But “under this bill, the developer could go in, talk to the state and level anything they want.”

In Winter Park, Urban Forestry Manager Dru Dennison said despite the more than 25,000 trees in the city’s rights-of-way, more than 60 percent of the city’s trees are on private property.

“It’s very concerning to us,” Dennison said. “It could be potentially devastating to our whole culture here in Winter Park.”

She said residents currently have to go through the Urban Forestry department to get a permit to remove most trees with trunks larger than 9 inches wide, usually issued if a tree is diseased, dying or has structural problems. If removed, the planting of new trees to replace removed ones is usually required.

“I believe the majority of our citizens here love our trees,” Dennison said. “And for the most part they don’t want to remove trees.”

Lynn Van Reich, whose home features two thick oaks at least 50 years old, agreed. in of

“Protect the canopy at all costs,” Van Reich said. “That’s one of the blessings of living in Winter Park.”

Orange County itself is one of two counties in the state listed as a Tree City, a designation given by the Arbor Day Foundation and the National Association of State Foresters. The other is Steube’s home county of Sarasota County.

Alan Marshall, the assistant to the director of Community, Environmental and Development Services in Orange County, said removing tree protections could also affect wetlands protection, property values and water quality.

“That’s why we want to make sure uncontrolled development doesn’t occur,” Marshall said. “And if you take trees out and don’t require planting anything back? A lot of times, [plants] come back that are invasive.”

Norman Easey, the head of the International Society of Arboriculture, said the group plans to oppose the bill but wants to wait to see how far it goes.

“If it makes it through committee, then everything changes,” he said, adding a similar measure failed in Texas this year. He said he understood the pendulum was always in danger of swinging away from tree protection, especially if cities are using tree permits as a way to make money.

Regarding tree care and protection, “someone needs to do it,” Easey said. “Trees are long-lived things, and properties change hands frequently. It’s important someone is looking out for the benefit of trees.”

slemongello@ orlandosentinel.com, 407-418-5920 or @stevelemongello