Beaufort considering more detailed tree ordinance

Officials in Beaufort are considering rules that would better protect and replenish trees native to the Lowcountry.

City Council is set to take a final vote on the changes Tuesday.

The changes would redefine a "grand tree" -- one that is environmentally significant and large enough to be protected. The changes also outline what people and developers must do to remove a grand tree in Beaufort, which is a Tree City USA designee.

The current ordinance's definition of a grand tree is too general and does not account for the variety of trees native to the Lowcountry, city landscape architect Liza Hill said. Some native trees must be protected earlier than others if the city is to have a diverse and healthy tree canopy.

"We're trying to look at more than live oaks, because if we don't, we'll end up with a forest of live oaks and nothing else," she said.

The changes are largely based on Beaufort County's ordinance.

The city currently defines a grand tree as:

• A broad-leaf, overstory tree with a trunk 24 inches or more in diameter.

The proposed new rules would protect:

If grand trees must be cut down, the city would require a property owner to mitigate the loss. One way would be to keep enough trees of the same species that are at least 8 inches in diameter to equal the diameter of the trees removed.

Another option would be to plant enough trees at least 2.5 inches in diameter to equal the diameter inches of trees removed. A third way would be to pay $70 to the city's tree fund per diameter inch of the tree removed. The fund would be used for the planting and care of trees on city-owned land.

City Council has discussed changes to the tree ordinance during the past month. At a Sept. 9 work session, Councilman Mike McFee questioned whether the changes would hinder developers. He said the city gets labeled as unfriendly to development, and he doesn't want to create more "red tape" or "hoops to jump through."

Hill said while the changes would be more specific and add work, they also would make it clearer to developers early on what must be done. A more comprehensive review of trees and identifying trees that are hazardous and dying would also help, she said.

Follow reporter Erin Moody at twitter.com/IPBG_Erin.

Related content:

• City Council seeks changes in reporting, ticket collections of parking services
• Beaufort officials consider easing building requirements in Boundary Street Redevelopment District
• Tree company adopts Beaufort's oldest live oak

This story was originally published September 22, 2014 at 1:33 PM with the headline "Beaufort considering more detailed tree ordinance."