First 8 Palm Trees for Relocation or Removal Have Been Marked on Perdido Key

Florida Power and Light (FP&L) has sent out their arborist and they have subsequently marked the first 8 trees that need to be either re-located or removed due to these trees' entanglement with FP&L's lines.

These particular trees are located at the Sundown North condominium complex.

After my blog posts and subsequent media and social media coverage of the initial plan to clear as many as 70 palm trees from Perdido Key---FP&L sharpened their pencils, re-looked at the initial list, then cut it down to 27 trees that needed to go.  Management of this particular condominium HOA group, Sundown, then expressed an emphatic desire to relocate these 8 trees to different areas on their property, away from the lines.

Upon hearing this, I spoke with FP&L and they moved quickly to get this particual HOA's trees marked.

Late yesterday, however, this HOA expressed some concerns about the costs of relocation of these trees--which came as somewhat of a surprise.

 

"[a consulted tree vendor] said that it would not be cost effective to relocate them" was what I heard back.

So I attempted to speak with that HOA group again today without luck.

If they don't want to move the trees, I will have county personnel develop a plan to retrieve them and replant them at county property where appropriate.

One way or another, my aim is to save and relocte the trees.

If the HOA's want them--they'll get first crack.

If they don't want them, I'll request the county move them.

If the county can't--then the remaining trees will no doubt be cut down.

I'm hoping it doesn't come to that.

Saving the Perdido Key Palm Trees in 90 days--This Is How We're Going to Do It

There are a number of palm trees like this one in Perdido Key that have grown into the wires of the FPL poles.  So we are working a better plan now to fix this condition--- rather than sending out a team of "Paul Bunyons" to cut them all down in one day's time.

After I got a jolting, late afternoon email Thursday--I started asking a lot of questions about a plan to cut down about 70 palm trees on Perdido Key.  Literally--that was what was planned.  a team of tree cutters were going to cut them all down, all 70 of them, in one day, before March 26th.  And last Thursday was the first I was told about it.

So of course my reaction was no way!

And subsequent to my blog post on the topic blowing-up like a nuclear explosion--- I was contacted by the media and several HOA group representatives. 

Studio 850 even came out and walked the site with me and posted about it. 

Everybody is looking for a way to dramatically lower the number of trees that need to be removed.

FPL started out by sharpening their pencils and re-evaluating their list.  They have since that time sent over a revised list that has a lot fewer trees slated for removal.  The initial list from last Thursday identified 70 trees for removal, the revised list, below, has 27 trees---a reduction of 43 trees to be taken and representing a 62% reduction of what they initially planned.  That was a really encouraging development.

But I'd still like to tray and save them all.

So I've subsequently spoken to an arborist, two lawyers, our natural resources director, our county administrator, a local FPL representative, and several media outlets on this matter.

And now a plan is taking shape that will allow the county to work with the HOA's and FPL to save even more of these trees by taking the issue in three stages as follows:

1.) --allow adequate time for any HOA that wants to remove and relocate a tree flagged for removal by FPL to do so within 45 days.

2.) --allow 45 additional days for the county to remove and relocate any of these palm trees flagged for removal by FPL if the relevant HOA decides not to relocate such trees

3.) --finally, will allow for FPL to remove any palm trees left after the 90 days slated for relocation.

FPL is in the driver's seat on this issue--that's been confirmed and they have the right to remove, cut back, or clear areas where they have easements in order to protect their lines.

My site visit Friday clearly illustrated the fact that several of these trees are, indeed, tangled into the lines.

So the win win of this story is that we now all know there is an issue, we will have time to deal with the issue, and at the end of it we will save a lot of trees and FPL's lines will be clear.

Win win.

Now we just have to do it.

No WAY We Will Let Them Cut Down 70 Palm Trees on Perdido Key!!

Florida Power and Light has hatched a plan to cut down 70 palm trees at 13 locations on Perdido Key in District 1.  They'll only do this if we cannot legally stop them from doing it.  Oh, and I just found out about this yesterday afternoon at 5:00PM.  And I bet the residents don't know about this plan, either.  Yet.

NO WAY!!!!

That was my visceral reaction yesterday evening (actually that AND some choice words I've not included) ------upon hearing of Florida Power and Light's  FPL's iminent "plan" to cut down 70 trees on the right of way on perdido Key.  SEVENTY palm trees.

Not trimmed.

Not re-located.

Not re-planted with smaller palm trees.

Just cut down, unceremoniously, and hauled off.

I'm now being told they want to take even more, and are actively approaching private property owners requesting the ability to cut down many palm trees located on private property, as well.

Look, I get it that sometimes trees must be trimmed back to not interfere with transmission lines---we all understand that.  But to just say you're going to send out a group of lumberjacks on ONE day, and in this ONE day remove 70 trees without any kind of discussion over it first--yeah, that's not going to happen if the county has any legal means at its disposal to stop this.

I'm awaiting additional information--including any such legal means the county may have at it's disposal to prevent this action from occurring.  below is a part of some of a very nonchalant, matter of fact email chain I received from staff describing what apparently was just about to happen------late yesterday afternoon....

"Below is a list of addresses and tree count proposed for removal.  This work has to be complete by 3.26.22 (funding constraints).  They intend to start and complete the work in 1 (one) day."

Commissioner,

 FPL will be doing maintenance on Perdido Key Drive which involves taking down palm trees.... see specific addresses below.  These trees are in the public ROW.  FPL was also going to approach folks at the addresses to see if they could address any other trees which are hindering the lines...but they do have a deadline of 3/26/22.