Fernandina Heritage Tree Under Threat

Amelia Tree Conservancy has become aware of the lack of protection that the city of Fernandina Beach offers its Heritage Trees.

Case in point: right now at 311 Elm St., a beautiful Heritage Tree is endangered. The owner of the property is proposing to build a house that is oversized for the property. The city has given permission to construct a house that allows a radical removal of a significant portion of the Heritage Tree. Not only will this destabilize the tree, the city has given an indication that it will also allow a pool to be built along the backside of the tree, which will severely cut into the tree’s root system. This is disastrous.

Live oak trees are known for their highly adaptable and extensive root systems, which can extend up to three times the size of the tree’s canopy. That's why live oaks can thrive for hundreds of years but not when cut into to build a swimming pool on one side. They are inseparable from Fernandina Beach’s identity. This particular tree, with its beautiful sweeping limbs, is very old. The crown has created an impressive array of branches, and its height could be 50 feet, and it is many feet in diameter.

Fernandina Beach is recognized as a Tree City USA. One would think that means we value and protect our trees. Evidently not! The island’s trees, in addition to providing many benefits, such as soaking up stormwater and providing shade, increase property values. Trees are a crucial part of what makes our city special.

The owners of this property have consulted with numerous arborists. Many walked away, but one did not. Instead, his consultation suggests a massive cutting back of the tree that looks to remove more than the allowed 20%.  Why not build within the context of the land and design a house that wouldn’t harm the tree? A creative architect could design a unique and special house on this property. That should be the policy in a Tree City.

Our local ordinances allow variances to be granted. This is what happened in this case. The Planning and Conservation Department approved a variance to allow the owner’s plan to move forward and the variance will change setbacks that do not protect the health of the tree.

Citizens should be irate that Fernandina Beach has no real protection for our most significant trees. Let the City Commission and the Planning and Conservation Department plus the Fernandina arborist know that this is unacceptable. This impacts all of us.