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City of Miami Beach, 1700 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, Florida 33139, www.miamibeachfl.gov
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| | | | | | | | | | Item 8
COMMITTEE MEMORANDUM | | | |
| | | | | | | | TO: Land Use and Sustainability Committee
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| FROM: Alina T. Hudak, City Manager
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| DATE: March 1, 2023
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| | | | | | | | | TITLE: | AMEND CERTAIN LANDSCAPING REQUIREMENTS IN CHAPTER 126 OF THE CITY CODE RELATING TO PALM TREES, TO PERMIT PALMS TO COUNT TOWARD THE MINIMUM NUMBER OF STREET TREES |
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| | | | | | | | HISTORY:
| On February 1, 2023, at the request of Commissioner Steven Meiner, the City Commission referred the subject proposal (C4 C) to the Land Use and Sustainability Committee (LUSC) and the Planning Board.
BACKGROUND
As noted in the attached referral memo, the item sponsor has proposed a separate amendment to Chapter 46 of the City Code to provide that an existing palm may be replaced with a new palm at the same location (i.e. “a palm for a palm”) with no additional mitigation requirement. The item sponsor has requested that the LUSC discuss and consider a companion amendment to Section 126-6(a) of the Land Development Regulations of the City Code (LDR’s) to accommodate the proposed modifications to Chapter 46, as well as address any conflicts with Chapter 126.
While Section 126-6(a) addresses the type and placement of street trees specifically, Chapter 46 deals with the preservation of trees and palms, and requires relocation and mitigation for trees that are removed to maintain and grow the canopy for public and private property.
Currently, Section 126-6(a)(2) allows single trunk palm species with a minimum of ten inches diameter at breast height (DBH) and a minimum of 15 feet of clear or grey wood at time of planting to supplement the required number of street trees. However, this section of the LDR’s does not permit palm trees to count toward the required number of street trees. |
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| | | | | | | | ANALYSIS:
| Attached is a draft text amendment to Section 126-6(a)(2) of the LDR’s, which proposes to allow palms to count as required street trees on the basis of one (1) palm per tree, provided such palms meet the following minimum size and spacing requirements:
1. A minimum of ten inches diameter at breast height (DBH).
2. A minimum of 15 feet of clear or grey wood at time of planting.
3. A maximum spacing of 20 feet on center.
As noted in the referral memo, this proposed amendment to Chapter 126 is intended to conform the landscaping requirements in the LDRs to the separate amendment proposed for Chapter 46, which would also allow palms to count toward the minimum number of required street trees.
Attached, for informational purposes, is a fact sheet pertaining to the Miami Beach Tree Preservation Code and Urban Forestry Master Plan. In addition to the information provided in this fact sheet, the following is noted with regard to the proposed ordinance amendment, as well as the importance of maintaining and promoting healthy tree canopy city wide:
• If the City Commission decides to amend the current requirements of Chapter 46 and 126, and allow palms to count as the required number of street trees, the City will still need to meet the minimum requirements of the Miami-Dade County Landscape Code. While Miami-Dade County allows palms as street trees, municipalities within the County have different requirements. For example, Pinecrest does not allow palms at all and other cities restrict the type or number of palms that are allowed.
• Palms as street trees offer less shade for pedestrians and less environmental benefits in comparison to canopy trees that are native and Florida Friendly canopy trees.
• The standard recommendation for tree canopy coverage in cities is 30%. Unfortunately the City of Miami Beach was only at 17% with the last full inventory. Our goal is 22% canopy coverage by 2040 based on planting in 50% of available areas.
• Palms require more maintenance and fertilizer than canopy trees, as well as more frequent upkeep. Excessive or incorrect fertilizer use has been found to lead to algal blooms in Biscayne Bay, our aquatic preserve that is in peril, as fertilizers are carried as run-off into the Bay when it rains. Additionally, canopy trees are usually pruned on a 3-to-4-year cycle, while palms are trimmed 3 to 4 times per year.
It is also important to note that nothing in Chapter 126 precludes specifying palms in landscape designs. In fact, palms are included in most development projects, in addition to the minimum number of street and lot trees. Chapter 126 was substantially rewritten and adopted in 2016 with the express intention of increasing our urban tree canopy city wide. The current regulations further the resiliency and sustainability goals of the City by creating shady and walkable neighborhoods and contributing to stormwater management.
Based upon the foregoing, the Administration does not recommend in favor of the proposed revision to Section 126-6(a), as proposed herein. If the proposed ordinance does move forward, the Administration recommends that the city continue to require the current spacing and height of taller palms, as well as native and Florida Friendly palms.
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| | | | | | | | CONCLUSION:
| | In view of the foregoing, the Administration recommends that the Land Use and Sustainability Committee discuss and conclude the item and provide an unfavorable recommendation to the Planning Board. |
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| | | | | | | | | Is this a "Residents Right to Know" item, pursuant to City Code Section 2-14? | | Does this item utilize G.O. Bond Funds? | | | Yes | | No | |
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