As the climate continues to warm, many cities are planting trees to offset rising temperatures and taking initiatives to help fight climate change.
On September 27, 2021, the Community Redevelopment Agency Board directed staff to develop a Street Tree Program to encourage tree planting to increase street tree canopy to provide shade on residential streets and beautify our neighborhoods.
The program is designed to expand street tree canopy into low-tree canopy neighborhoods. The program can be implemented by prioritizing neighborhoods by identifying those areas where trees are needed the most and maximizing the benefits of planting trees by focusing on one neighborhood at a time.
Criteria for prioritization included tree inventory of residential neighborhoods within the CRA boundary. The attached tree planting map identified 6 neighborhoods (listed in priority order) that could benefit from the program.
Staff coordinated with Martin County Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society to recommend native plants for the program. The list of recommended canopy shade trees and understory trees is attached.
The program provides for the planting of street tree on private portion of the front yard (or side yard for corner lots) or within the City’s right of way. The homeowner will choose a tree species from the City’s list of recommended street trees. The City staff will review all the applications and conduct a site visit to determine the location of tree species chosen. If the City staff determines that the tree species chosen is appropriate for the location, the application will be processed. If the City staff determines that the tree species chosen is not appropriate, the applicant will be notified and will be recommended a different type of tree that is appropriate from the tree list. Once the Owner agrees to a species and location that has been determined by the City to be appropriate, the application will be processed.
Site inspection will determine appropriate location for tree based on the following but not limited to underground utilities present, overhead power lines, line of sight, sufficient space, light requirements and most importantly planting the right tree in the right place to maximize the benefits.
The City will be responsible for purchasing the trees and planting the trees. The CRB and CRA will have the ability to determine if watering will be provided by the City to a neighborhood during the first ninety (90) days to help establish the trees. There is no cost to the resident. Homeowners will be responsible for care of tree after 90 days and will be provided guidelines for watering tree care instructions.
City staff will submit the species list and locations to nursery. The contractor will schedule and perform the installations between March and April.
Recommended Action:
Staff is requesting the following:
1) Implement the program in East Stuart (1A) as a priority area for FY 2022.
2) Narrow down the list developed by the Martin County Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society by recommending 3-4 shade trees and understory trees for consistency in a neighborhood.
3) Recommend if the City will provide water for the first 90 days to help establish the trees in the East Stuart neighborhood (1A).
4) Approve Resolution No. 12-2021 for the implementation of the program in the priority residential neighborhoods.