Summary On June 20, 2016, the City approved construction plans for the extension of Progress Boulevard, submitted by the UF Foundation Inc. The project includes 1,350 linear feet of roadway, a cul de sac, and drainage infrastructure. A condition of construction plan approval is that "prior to the acceptance of the infrastructure by the City of Alachua, the applicant shall provide off-site mitigation for required tree replacement that cannot be accommodated through on-site mitigation in accordance with the LDRs."
The construction plans show 55 regulated trees and 16 heritage trees to be removed. Section 6.2.1(D)(1) of the City's LDRs requires regulated trees to be replaced on a one-for-one basis, and heritage and champion trees to be replaced on an inch for inch basis. The number of trees to be removed would require 487 replacement trees to be planted for mitigation.
When tree replacement cannot be accommodated through on-site mitigation, Section 6.2.1(D)(7) of the LDRs allows off-site mitigation by allowing replacement trees to be planted in City-owned properties and parks, City rights-of-way, preservation or conservation areas owned by the City, and within medians of rights-of-way of State and County roads where an interlocal agreement authorizes such plantings. The formula for the calculation of off-site mitigation is provided with Section 6.2.1(D)(7)(c) of the City's LDRs, and is equal to the cost of the replacement tree, plus installation (including labor and equipment), plus maintenance for one year, plus fund administration. The LDRs require that the fee for off-site mitigation be adopted by the City Commission through resolution.
The applicant for the road construction plans has provided a memorandum that calculates the payment requested for off-site mitigation in accordance with the formula provided within Section 6.2.1(D)(7)(c) of the City's LDRs. The memorandum is attached to Resolution 17-17 as Exhibit "A." The required payment for off-site mitigation is $48,495.46. In accordance with the condition for road construction plan approval, the fee for the off-site mitigation must be paid to the City prior to the acceptance of the infrastructure by the City.
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