More of the tree canopy is being destroyed
Our Grove neighbor Carrollton School has decided to remove some trees. Again. BD16003569001 is the intended decision to remove two trees from the campus at 3747 Main Highway.
As usual, the City of Miami's Planning & Zoning Department has made it difficult for anyone to appeal this decision.
Liliana Dones of Coconut Grove Tree Watch says, "Carrollton recently removed a significant amount of trees along the coral stone wall at the front of the property diminishing greatly the canopy on Main Highway. Neighbors missed that appeal because the intended decision was posted opposite from where the trees were located, and the ink was completely washed out due to rain." Tree Watch was not notified of this new tree removal decision in time for any appeal. This has been a common practice over the years - placing notices where they are not seen.
Liliana asks, "How can we obtain more information regarding the condition of these particular trees that they were determined to be hazardous / dangerous? Also, why are there no replacement trees? Although the Intended Decision indicates that 'all other information regarding this decision such as the Tree disposition Plan, the Tree Survey, Site Plan and Replacement Plan may be obtained at the Dept of Planning and Zoning /Environmental Resources Division,' when I go to the website, it is a dead-end as far as getting these plans."
I reached out to Carrollton to ask about the situation, but have not heard back.
In a recent case at 3003 Emathla Street, the notice was posted on the wall of the property that said, "no trespassing," so in order to see the notice, one would have to trespass onto the site. Plus the notice itself was sent out many days after the initial countdown day for the 10 day appeal process. Luckily Treeman Trust was able to slide an appeal in before the deadline.
Liliana Dones has come up with a few suggestions that would make things easier for everyone, but do these developers, schools and people who want to remove the trees care to abide by these rules and more importantly does the incompetent Planning & Zoning Dept. really give a damn?
HERE ARE SOME OF THE SUGGESTIONS THAT WOULD MAKE THINGS EASIER FOR ALL OF US CONCERNED ABOUT PROTECTING OUR TREE CANOPY
1. BETTER NOTICE TIMING: The Notice of Intended decision to neighbors, associations and interested groups such as TreeWatch Brickell Watch, Treeman Trust, and Homeowner organizations in the vicinity of the tree removals should go out the same day or at the very least within 24 hours of the actual posting.
2. EASIER ACCESS TO MORE INFORMATION: There should be a link in the email sent that directs one back to a pdf download of the electronic files that contain such the Tree disposition Plan, the Tree Survey, Site Plan and Replacement Plan for the particular case so that those of us interested in can take a look and gain information.
3. VISIBLE, WEATHERPROOF SIGNAGE: In addition to posting the sign in a visible place we request that the sign should be more visible to passersby. There is no better combination for outdoor signage than bold black letters on a yellow background. The ink should be indelible, and the sing should go inside a protective sleeve.
4. DISTINCTIVE LOCATION FOR THE SIGNAGE: singing should be visible from the sidewalk or street. Whenever possible it should be on the tree itself, unless the tree is obscured from view. Furthermore, if there is more than one tree slated for removal, each tree should have a sign.
5. EASIER APPEAL SUBMISSION PROCESS. When TreeWatch was formed in 2005 and we started appealing tree removals on behalf of neighbors, the preservation officer was allowed to receive the appeal via email up until the end of day on the last day of the appeal. Several years ago this changed, and we once agin were expected to go downs to file the appeal. It would be idea if we could once again be allowed to send the appeal by email.
"Those of us who put these appeals together, do so as community volunteers, in our spare time, after gathering information. I would hate to think that a tree was lost because I or Jim McMasters from Tree Man Trust or someone from Village Council of a Homeowner association could not get to the MCR building on a particular week," says Lilliana.
There is a new Tree Canopy Working Group as part of Grove 2030. The first meeting is Tuesday, May 24 at the Glass House at Peacock Park at 6:30 pm. The group’s objective is to develop a list of policy recommendations and action items that can help achieve the goal of expanding the Coconut Grove tree canopy by 25 percent by the year 2030. This initial meeting, which is open to anyone, is to gauge interest in the group and, hopefully, to establish an outline for moving forward.
Info on the Planning & Zoning Tree Protection department is here: miamigov.com/planning/treeprotection.html
Tree protection is at: Email: EnvironmentalRes@miamigov.com / Phone: 305-416-1400
As usual, the City of Miami's Planning & Zoning Department has made it difficult for anyone to appeal this decision.
Liliana Dones of Coconut Grove Tree Watch says, "Carrollton recently removed a significant amount of trees along the coral stone wall at the front of the property diminishing greatly the canopy on Main Highway. Neighbors missed that appeal because the intended decision was posted opposite from where the trees were located, and the ink was completely washed out due to rain." Tree Watch was not notified of this new tree removal decision in time for any appeal. This has been a common practice over the years - placing notices where they are not seen.
Liliana asks, "How can we obtain more information regarding the condition of these particular trees that they were determined to be hazardous / dangerous? Also, why are there no replacement trees? Although the Intended Decision indicates that 'all other information regarding this decision such as the Tree disposition Plan, the Tree Survey, Site Plan and Replacement Plan may be obtained at the Dept of Planning and Zoning /Environmental Resources Division,' when I go to the website, it is a dead-end as far as getting these plans."
I reached out to Carrollton to ask about the situation, but have not heard back.
In a recent case at 3003 Emathla Street, the notice was posted on the wall of the property that said, "no trespassing," so in order to see the notice, one would have to trespass onto the site. Plus the notice itself was sent out many days after the initial countdown day for the 10 day appeal process. Luckily Treeman Trust was able to slide an appeal in before the deadline.
Liliana Dones has come up with a few suggestions that would make things easier for everyone, but do these developers, schools and people who want to remove the trees care to abide by these rules and more importantly does the incompetent Planning & Zoning Dept. really give a damn?
HERE ARE SOME OF THE SUGGESTIONS THAT WOULD MAKE THINGS EASIER FOR ALL OF US CONCERNED ABOUT PROTECTING OUR TREE CANOPY
1. BETTER NOTICE TIMING: The Notice of Intended decision to neighbors, associations and interested groups such as TreeWatch Brickell Watch, Treeman Trust, and Homeowner organizations in the vicinity of the tree removals should go out the same day or at the very least within 24 hours of the actual posting.
2. EASIER ACCESS TO MORE INFORMATION: There should be a link in the email sent that directs one back to a pdf download of the electronic files that contain such the Tree disposition Plan, the Tree Survey, Site Plan and Replacement Plan for the particular case so that those of us interested in can take a look and gain information.
3. VISIBLE, WEATHERPROOF SIGNAGE: In addition to posting the sign in a visible place we request that the sign should be more visible to passersby. There is no better combination for outdoor signage than bold black letters on a yellow background. The ink should be indelible, and the sing should go inside a protective sleeve.
4. DISTINCTIVE LOCATION FOR THE SIGNAGE: singing should be visible from the sidewalk or street. Whenever possible it should be on the tree itself, unless the tree is obscured from view. Furthermore, if there is more than one tree slated for removal, each tree should have a sign.
5. EASIER APPEAL SUBMISSION PROCESS. When TreeWatch was formed in 2005 and we started appealing tree removals on behalf of neighbors, the preservation officer was allowed to receive the appeal via email up until the end of day on the last day of the appeal. Several years ago this changed, and we once agin were expected to go downs to file the appeal. It would be idea if we could once again be allowed to send the appeal by email.
"Those of us who put these appeals together, do so as community volunteers, in our spare time, after gathering information. I would hate to think that a tree was lost because I or Jim McMasters from Tree Man Trust or someone from Village Council of a Homeowner association could not get to the MCR building on a particular week," says Lilliana.
There is a new Tree Canopy Working Group as part of Grove 2030. The first meeting is Tuesday, May 24 at the Glass House at Peacock Park at 6:30 pm. The group’s objective is to develop a list of policy recommendations and action items that can help achieve the goal of expanding the Coconut Grove tree canopy by 25 percent by the year 2030. This initial meeting, which is open to anyone, is to gauge interest in the group and, hopefully, to establish an outline for moving forward.
Info on the Planning & Zoning Tree Protection department is here: miamigov.com/planning/treeprotection.html
Tree protection is at: Email: EnvironmentalRes@miamigov.com / Phone: 305-416-1400
posted by Tom Falco at 10:00 AM
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2 Comments:
Carrollton School being a Catholic school should have more respect for life and neighbors. I say let's get the Church involved to intervene.
Makes sense to me that a Catholic girls school would want to get rid of trees. Some are nut-bearing, some sow their seeds, still others have fruits. Clearly, they are offensive to the sensibilities of fine young ladies and those who care for them!
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