HomeMy WebLinkAboutDocumentation_Environmental Advisory Committee_Tab 04_6/12/2024Agenda Item #4.
Environmental Advisory Committee (EAC)
STAFF MEMO
Meeting:Environmental Advisory Committee (EAC) - Jun 12 2024
Staff Contact:Jessica Namath,Chair Department:Environmental Advisory
Committee
TITLE
Review and Revision of Tequesta's Tree Policy
SUMMARY:
On May 25th, two 100+ year old eucalyptus trees, out of a strand of about 10, were cut down without
permits on an HOA easement on the Banyan Tree Park property. The police were called and Doug
Chambers quickly joined them on the scene despite it being a weekend. This incident sparked a deep
dive into the permit process, code enforcement and list of prohibited plants in the Village. Upon
comparison with other municipalities, I was surprised to find that Palm Beach, with perhaps the
strictest code in South Florida, only has nine (9) prohibited plants on its list compared to Tequesta's
twentysix (26). Palm Beach only has 9 prohibited plants on its list and Eucalyptus is not one of them.
Here is theirlist:(1)Australian pine (Casuarina spp.).(2)Brazilian pepper (Schinus
terebinthefolius).(3)Punk or papertree(Meleleuca quinquenervia).(4)Old-world climbing fern
(Lygodium microphyllum).(5)Air potato vine(Dioscorea bulbifera).(6)Carrotwood (Cupaniopsis
anacardiodies).(7)Earleaf acacia (Acacia auriculiformis).(8)Schefflera (Schefflera
actinophylla).(9)Kudzu (Pueraria montana var. lobata). Banyan is not prohibited either.
Apparently VoT updated their list in 2023, which was news to me despite being on the EAC during
that time. I think we need a better understanding of which plants we've chosen to prohibit and why.
I've attached the current list of prohibited species and code as backup, believing it needs to be
reviewed and amended. Also attached is the code for historic and specimen tree designation, which
should also be considered for trees like the Banyan at Banyan Tree Park, (which is also on Tequesta's
list of prohibited species).
https://library.municode.com/fl/tequesta/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH78ZO
_ARTIXSURE_DIV4LA_S78-397PRPLSP
https://library.municode.com/fl/tequesta/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH50NA
REPR_ARTVIITR_DIV3PRHISPTRNASP
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Agenda Item #4.
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