The DeLand City Commission is expected to decide on Monday night whether to approve the removal of 62 historic trees, most of which are in good to fair condition, for a development.
The trees ― all live oaks, except for one red cedar that is in fair condition ― are at the southeast corner of Cassadaga Road and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, according to city documents. If the commission allows it, the trees will be removed for the DeLand Tech Park Project.
The project includes “a combination of warehouse and commercial space,” according to minutes from the DeLand Tree Advisory Committee.
“The applicant requested the removals because construction of the project cannot be accomplished without removing the trees,” according to the city.
The City Commission meeting will begin at 7 p.m. Monday, June 16, in City Commission chambers at DeLand City Hall at 120 S. Florida Ave.
DeLand City Code defines historically significant trees as bald cypress that are 20 inches or larger in diameter at breast height, live oak or sand live oak trees that are at least 25 inches in diameter at breast height and red cedar trees that are at least 25 inches in diameter at breast height.
The applicant, Longleaf Four LLC, is proposing to take a couple of actions in exchange for removing the trees. The developer would add to the northern buffer of the project by 200 feet to save a live oak that’s 76 inches in diameter at breast height (the diameter of a tree trunk at 4 1/2 feet above the average ground level at the tree’s base). Also, the developer would provide an additional 10-acre tree protection area north of the project.
The city would also require the developer to plant 62 replacement trees that are at least 17 feet tall with a 6-inch caliper.
DeLand’s Tree Advisory Committee recommended approval of the agreement on May 13.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Development officials seek to cut down 62 ‘historic trees’ in DeLand
Reporting by Sheldon Gardner, Daytona Beach News-Journal / The Daytona Beach News-Journal
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