HomeMy WebLinkAboutDocumentation_Environmental Advisory Committee_Tab 03_9/14/2022Agenda Item #3.
Environmental Advisory Committee (EAC)
STAFF MEMO
Meeting: Environmental Advisory Committee (EAC) -Sep 14 2022
Staff Contact: Thomas Bradford, EAC Chair Department: Environmental Advisory
Committee
.A
Request for EAC to Recommend Formal Streetscape Plans for the Village of Tequesta
SUMMARY: MWO
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Streetscape Memo 090722
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Page 18 of 36
Agenda Item #3.
Village of Tequesta
Environmental Advisory
Committee
To: Environmental Advisory Committee Members
From: Thomas G. Bradford, Chair, EAC rR
Cc: NA
Date: September 7, 2022
Subject: Village Streetscape Locations and Plan Development
Village Manager Allen asked if the EAC would take on the task of recommending streets in the
VOT that should have a formal streetscape plan. If we do that, I think the Village Manager wants
our recommendations on what the content of those plans should be. He and Village staff definitely
want our recommendations on how best to go about limiting damage to sidewalks, curbs and other
infrastructure not only with proper tree selection, but also with options to direct and deflect root
growth away from infrastructure while allowing the trees selected to mature and flourish.
The word "streetscape" refers to the features within the street right-of-way including the roadway,
curbing, crosswalks, esplanades, street trees, lighting, and street and sidewalk furnishings taken as
a whole. It's not just trees, but in this case the focus is most likely going to be limited to trees and
other ancillary landscaping in existing and proposed streetscape areas.
Previously, we agreed that our first order of business is to make recommendations on the existing
streetscapes before moving on to making recommendations for the new locations.
EAC Recommendations for Existing Streetscape Locations
There is the need to formally adopt the existing streetscape plans for Country Club Drive, Tequesta
Drive and Seabrook Road in order to protect them and ensure the adopted plan is never
Page 19 of 36
Agenda Item #3.
compromised. This could be as is, meaning tnostly Live Oaks on Country Club Drive and Seabrook
Road, although Seabrook Road has a number of Sable Palms in its design, and Tequesta Drive is
Live Oaks and Royal Palms. For Tequesta Drive.,, particularly where the area has both curb, gutter
and sidewalk, I think that the Village would appreciate any recommendations on what to replace
expensiveRoyal Palms with when they die.
For your consideration, I have set forth the following as the LAB' recommendations for existing
streetscape locations:
1. Country Club Drive:
a. Keep and expand the current designed streetscape plan consisting of prig rily Live
Oaks.
b. Replace all Live Oaks -upon death caused by disease, lightning, auto accidents or
for any other reason, with another Live Oak,, with or without a root barrier,, at the,
discretion of the Director of Public Works. When a root barrier is employed, it
should be done so pursuant to University of Florida, Departinent of Environmental
Horticulture root barrier recommendations calling for:
i. the root barrier to be higher than the grade within which the new tree has
been planted, say two or three inches higher.
11,. Place the root barriers sufficiently away from the structure (about six
inches) to be protected so that as the roots grow wider, they will not touch
the curb or walkway.
c. Take steps to immediately provide infill with new Livc Oak plantings for Lill areas
void of the proper canopy provided by existing mature Live Oaks in the Country
Club Drive right-of-way from Tequesta Drive to the Village entrance sign at the
Martin County line.
2. Tequesta Drive-. (For that portion of Tequesta Drive frorn US I to approximately Willow
Road)
a. Keep the current streetscape plan consisting primarily of Live Oaks and Royal Palm
trees. However, whenever an existing Royal Palm tree dies, replace that palm tree
with a Florida native tree,, not a palm tree., listed by the Florida Friendly
Landscaping office in Gainesville having the capability of providing a canopy
sufficient to cover the sidewalk and at least one lane of traffic upon maturity.
Thereafter, keep that as the tree to be used whenever a Royal Palm tree dies and
needs to be replaced in this road segment.
b. Replace all Live Oaks upon death caused by disease, lightning, auto accidents or
for any other reason, with or without a root barrier, at the discretion of the Director
of Public Works. When a root barrier is employed, it should be done so pursuant to
University of Florida, Department of Environmental Horticulture root barrier
recommendations calling for:
i, the root barrier to be higher than the grade within which the new tree li'c'is
been planted, say two or three inches higher.
K-A
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Agenda Item #3.
ii. Place the root barriers sufficiently away from the structure (about six
inches) to be protected so that as the roots grow wider, they will not touch
the curb or walkway.
c. Alternatively, if the Live Oak trees in this location are problematic for the Village
Department of Public Works due to damage to public infrastructure and the Village
Council concurs with the damage determination, another Florida native tree, not a
palm tree, approved by the Village Council or their designated advisory board and
listed by the Florida Friendly Landscaping office in Gainesville having the
capability of providing a canopy sufficient to cover the sidewalk and at least one
lane of traffic upon maturity may be used.' Thereafter, keep that chosen alternative
tree species to be used whenever a Live Oak tree dies and needs to be replaced
within this specific road segment.
2-A. Tequesta Drive Median Located at Intersection with US I to the West Edge of the
Tequesta Drive 100 Block
If and when the Bismarck Palms and Yellow Tabebuia trees die, consider replacing
them with native Florida Friendly shade trees capable of providing a canopy
sufficient to provide a canopy covering not less than one lane of traffic in each
' There is good news about the condition of the sidewalks within this road segment on both sides
of the street. After over 35 years of streetscape existence any uplifting of the sidewalk has been
corrected by Public Works having grade differentials between sidewalk segments ground down to
remain equal. There were 8 locations on the south side of the street that have minor section grade
differentials, but Public Works is likely aware of it. There are no sidewalk issues on the north side
of the road, except for minor sinking of paver block west of the railroad tracks. I noticed that FEC
and/or Brightline workers have decimated VOT sidewalk in the approach to FEC right--of-way an
also located in FEC right-of-way. They should be put on notice of the need to repair or replace this
during or after the Brightline grade crossing is updated.
3
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Agenda Item #3.
2-Bo
to -
Tequesta Drive Median between Cypress Drive and Willow Road
Whenever the Bismarck Palms in this median should die and require replacement,
replace them with a Florida Native tree, not a palm tree, capable of providing a
canopy sufficient to provide a canopy covering not less than one lane of traffic in
4o below.
2-C. Tequesta Drive: (For that portion of Tequesta Drive from approximately Willow Road
to its intersection with Country Club Drive)'
Keep the current streetscape plan consisting primarily of Live Oaks and Royal Palm
trees. However, whenever an existing Royal Palm tree dies, replace that palm tree
with a Florida native tree, not a palm tree, listed by the Florida Friendly
Landscaping office in Gainesville having a planted location with the capability of
providing a canopy sufficient to cover the sidewalk and at least one lane of traffic
upon maturity may be used. Thereafter, keep that as the tree to be used whenever a
Royal Palm tree dies and needs to be replaced in this roadway section. When a Live
Oak dies, replace it.
3. Seabrook Road:
a. Keep the current designed streetscape plan consisting of primarily Live Oaks
interspersed with some native Sabal Palms.
b. Replace all Live Oaks and Sabal Palms upon death caused by disease, lightning,
auto accidents or for any other reason, with or without a root barrier at the discretion
of the Director of Public Works. When a root barrier is employed, it should be done
so pursuant to University of Florida, Department of Environmental Horticulture
root barrier recommendations calling for:
i. the root barrier to be higher than the grade within which the new tree has
been planted, say two to three inches higher.
ii. Place the root barriers sufficiently away from the structure (about six
inches) to be protected so that as the roots grow wider, they will not touch
the curb or walk.
2 This road segment has numerous opportunities for the planting of Live Oaks in shade gaps
now. Examples are in the frontage along the south side of Village Green, the swale in front of
Gallery Square South, numerous location gaps between Seabrook Road and Riverside Drive on
both sides of the right-of-way and on the north side of Tequesta Drive from Bayview Road to
Country Club Drive.
Cl
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Agenda Item #3.
4. Formal Adoption of the Existing Streetscapes to Protect them
A streetscape plan, including a general description of its location and content should
3
be adopted as an ordinance to memorialize it for future reference. Consideration
should also be given to incorporating into such an ordinance the activities that
adjacent property owners and others are not allowed to do that could negatively
impact the trees, such as indiscriminate tree trimming, a function of the Village for
the tree that it owns. One positive aspect of the adoption of a streetscape plan for a
given street is that new development can be required to develop the portion of the
streetscape in the right-of-way fronting their property should the new development
be proposed prior to the completion of the streetscape plan. See this link for a
typical ROW Manual content:
https-://www.townof palmbeach.com/DocumentCenterNiew/561/Town-of-Palm-
Beach-Right-of Way-Standards-Manual?bi dld=
I noted when reviewing codes on this subject that the City of Coral Gables has
numerous ordinances pertaining to streetscape and tree protection. The Village
Attorney can decide what is best for Tequesta in this regard.
Thoughts from others about root barriers for Staff consideration:
L If the tree is anew planting, dig a hole that is twice as wide of the tree"s root
ball. In the center of the hole it should be deep enough to hold some enriched
soil and the tree root ball so that the depth is the same as the nursery had it
planted. Make cuts at the hole's periphery that are straight -walled two inches
less than the root barrier you're using is deep. Root barrier materials come from
12 inches up to 48 inches deep.
2. Assemble the root barrier so that it lines the circumference of your hole, then
place in the hole leaving one to two inches of the barrier sticking up above the
ground surface after the hole is filled. The root barrier material should be
installed as upright as possible.
3. If the root barrier is for existing trees, dig a trench around the trees, which may
require cutting back the roots. This is where hiring a professional is suggested
since it can take specialized equipment that won't damage the roots and/or kill
the tree.
4. If the root barrier is intended to protect a driveway or sidewalk, install a linear
barrier along the edge. This will maintain the moisture and nourishment needed
3 A streetscape plan can also be adopted by resolution if you create a Right -of -Way Manual that
has been adopted by ordinance and in this ROW Manual you include the locations of Village
Council approved streetscape plans, specific streetscape content.) streetscape rules and regulations
and requirements for developers if the streetscape has not been competed at the time the property
owner is seeking approval of his/her development proposal.
5
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Agenda Item #3.
to allow the tree roots to continue growing while redirecting them in other
directions.
5. The above four items do not come from the aforementioned University of
Florida, Department of Environmental. I lorticulture.
Next month we will decide the top three locations for new streetscapes. This is a time sensitive
request as the Village proposed FY 22/23 budget contains $75,000 to stet the new streetscape
design and permitting process. Be thinking of where you wish these locations to be. My October
memo will be based on my subjective opinion on where the locations should be and what they
should contain. You should be thinking of the same starting, right now to avoid any delays for
T.
no
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