Miami Springs resident shares concerns over tree removals without adequate replacements:


Dear Mayor and Council Members,

I am writing to condemn the continued cutting of trees in our city and the failure to replace them with new trees. This is a serious issue that is already having a negative impact in our city and must be addressed! The city has a responsibility to protect its trees, after all we are a Tree City!

Trees on the swale areas are being cut and not replaced. Over a year ago I brought it to the attention of the city that a perfectly healthy tree was cut down on the swale area of a recently sold home on Nightingale Avenue. The city’s reply: the tree was dying so it needed to be cut down and that they would replace it. This was over a year ago. No tree has been planted in its place. The owners simply use that space on the swale to park cars. What I suspect is happening all over the city is that new homeowners are requesting permits to cut down trees on the swale because they require more parking. There is another such case of a recently sold home on Albatross. The new owners cut down a tree on the swale because they need parking for 6 cars! The response from the city was the same: the tree was cut because it was sick. However, a new tree was never planted in its place.

On Hammond drive a perfectly healthy tree was also recently cut down. I took a photo of the stump that was left (see below). The base of the tree is perfectly healthy! What will be the city’s excuse for this tree? That this tree was also sick? If a portion of a tree is sick, then simply cut down that section. Fix the tree, don’t just cut it down. A mature tree takes decades to grow and that can’t be replaced. A new tree cannot replace the shade, the canopy, nor the value of a mature tree. If my cat is sick, I don’t put the cat down and buy a new one. I treat the cat.

The cutting of mature, healthy trees has to stop. Or are we to become another Hialeah!?

Trees on the swale should only be cut if it is in the way of a new driveway entry, and in such case, a new tree should be planted in the swale elsewhere.

We need to save the mature trees and we need to see the city acting AGAINST those seeking permits to cut down trees.

Below are just 3 instances of trees that have been cut down and not replaced! Large trees that took decades to grow!

The city said that the tree on Nightingale WOULD be replaced with a new tree (I have it in writing). It has been over a year now and still no replacement.

The people that moved into the Nightingale house butchered all their trees just to flip the house (it is currently for sale). I have no problem with a person making money in flipping a home, but I do have a problem when they sacrifice all the trees on their property in doing so. See images below.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely

Miami Springs Resident


 

CITY MANAGER REPLIES

On Wed, Jan 25, 2023 at 10:46 AM William Alonso <alonsow@miamisprings-fl.gov> wrote:

We are proud of our Tree City Designation which has been awarded to the city for decades. During the 2022 year that just ended the city planted 96 new trees citywide, while 43 were removed for various reasons which I will go over shortly. That gives us a net gain of 53 trees citywide during last year.

Of the 41 that were removed, 35 came from resident requests. In accordance to our existing code, residents can ask for a tree removal and pay a mitigation fee also trees within 20 feet of power lines can also be removed, trees that are causing property damage, dead or dying trees are all among reasons for tree removal. The mitigation fees collected go to purchasing and planting new trees. The other 8 trees removed were done by the city and involved trees that were deemed dead, dying, hazardous, we have a certified tree arborist that provides the city with his opinion on the condition of a tree and if it warrants removal.

As to the examples and pictures you provided see the following:

730 Nightingale – resident reported tree dead on the swale; the city arborist identified the tree as an oak and it was determined the tree was dead and needed to be removed. The tree was removed in April of 2022. Replacement tree will be located in another location within the City.

1101 Dove – resident reported tree was decaying in the swale; Lazaro consulted the city arborist. Arborist sent us Letter that indicated the tree was in a hazardous state and required removal. The oak will be replaced in the next planting.

1136 Partridge – resident reported the tree on swale was damaged due to lightening and was de barking. The tree was identified as a black olive. It was inspected and found to be hazardous due to falling limbs. The black olive will be replaced in the next planting.

We share your desire to maintain our tree canopies in the city since this is an important part of our history.

Miami Springs City Manager William Alonso
Miami Springs City Manager William Alonso

William Alonso CPA, CGFO
City Manager
CITY OF MIAMI SPRINGS

201 Westward Drive
Miami Springs, FL 33166
(O) 305.805.5011
(C) 786-219-6883
(E) alonsow@miamisprings-fl.gov


Resident Responds to City Manager

Hello, Mr. Alonso,

Thank you for replying.

I would agree with you that there was a net gain ONLY if you replaced 43 mature trees with 96 mature trees.

But you didn’t. You replaced 43 mature, large trees with 96 small trees.

Imagine saying you replaced 43 cows with 96 chickens and claiming you have a net gain in meat.

43 to 96 is a 1 to 2.23 ratio.

A 1 ton mature tree cannot be replaced by 2.23 new trees that total 200lbs.

So, regarding the homes listed below.

Looking at the aerial map of the Nightingale home, maybe they just had bad luck and ALL the trees at that location were dead, but miraculously the neighbors didn’t suffer the same curse?

Come on. You and I both know that they just wanted a clean slate to flip the house. The tree on the swale was not dead and did not need to be cut down. It’s been almost a year now, and still no tree has replaced it. And you said it’s going to be replaced elsewhere? Why would a new tree be planted elsewhere? Oh, because the current owners don’t want a new tree planted in place of the ‘sick’ tree, they don’t want ANY tree on the swale. THAT is the reason it was cut.

The Partridge home, which is now an ALF is the same scenario. I can tell you for a fact that the tree which was cut down was NOT hit by lightning. I run past these houses every day. The trunk which is still there is healthy and that tree never showed any sign of damage from lightning. It is the same scenario, the new owners wanted the tree gone.

From a fiscal standpoint, it is a net loss. It takes less money to cut off bad branches of a tree that was allegedly “hit by lightning” than it does to cut the entire tree, and plant 2.23 new ones.

From a shade standpoint, it is a net loss. A mature tree can provide 100’s of square feet of coverage, where 2.23 can provide very little.

From a wildlife standpoint, it is a net loss. A mature tree can provide shelter to dozens of larger wildlife (birds, squirrels, raccoons, etc.) where 2.23 small trees cannot.

And lastly, from an environmental standpoint (source: 8billiontrees):

43 mature trees (20 years old), with a circumference from 19’ to 35’, produce 474 tons of oxygen, and absorb 178 tons of carbon.

Whereas 96 new trees (5 years old), with a circumference from 7’ to 19’, produce only 52 tons of oxygen, and absorb only 19 tons of carbon.

Do you still think there is a net gain? If so, you’re looking at the wrong metrics.

It would take 883 new trees (5 years old, with a circumference of 7’ to 19’), to produce the same oxygen, and absorb the same amount of carbon as the 43 mature trees.

In simpler terms, you need 883 chickens to replace 43 cows.

Sincerely,

Concerned Miami Springs Resident


Your Thoughts?

Let us know what you think in the comments section below or via social media.  Have you seen trees removed without an adequate replacement?

 

Editor’s Note:

Is this the reason why the City of Miami Springs is currently not listed as a recognized Tree City by Tree City USA? Read more below:

Miami Springs Loses Tree City Designation?

Submit your “Letter to the Editor” to:  Editor@MiamiSprings.com.

 

3 COMMENTS

  1. Nightingale Home: I don’t know about the other houses, but the Nightingale house was clearly a removal of a whole bunch of trees. Dang. Those satellite photos don’t lie. Before lotsa trees. After no trees. I guess they were all dangerous or sick or dying. Sure.

  2. To Residents of Miami Springs: Please take this in the good spirits that is written. The city manager is following the proper protocol. If a city arborists tells him that the tree is ready to fail, has hollow trunk or branches, or the tree is codominant and there are signs of disease, he is going to follow the arborist report. You have to trust that the city manager is acting in good faith, and following all proper procedures. Can he make a mistake? What human being doesn’t make mistakes! For the record every homeowner has the right to remove any tree off their property but there has to be justification. The State of Florida allows tree removal without permit if the tree is a hazard to the home or a public safety hazard. This is a State Law. However, in order to do that you must hire a Landscape Architect or an Arborist that will sign off and provide you with the report with photos that tree is causing damage to your home foundation, roof, or water lines. Then there will be no mitigation required and no permit for tree removal required. Warning: If you do remove the tree make sure you first obtain a solid report from those professionals. The city has the right to ask for it if they believe you have acted improperly. If you desire to remove trees from your property do it correctly. Must have a surveyor mark all trees on your Property, Height, spread and size of trunk (Caliper). Miami Springs has their own code of ordinances or they follow Miami Dade county Landscape codes / Tree removal. Which ever the code is stricter that is the one to follow. Do not assume or act ignorant to city codes, that is not an acceptable excuse.
    The only area I might disagree with city manager and I do not know all the issues involved, is you remove a tree from the rights of way, that tree should be stump grind, and a new one replaced in its place and not in another city location. A homeowner removes a tree that is NOT a hazard, ok depending on the species, and size, and you mitigate. You could also and easily relocate the tree. Costly yes, only if the tree is in a good condition or a specimen. I am a landscape architect in practice for 45 years, and I have learned tremendously from arborist in the last 20 years. I may disagree at times with their findings, but in the end we seek the same thing “what is best for the environment and protecting our trees.” Common sense has to prevail! Before people lash out at city officials or professionals, do your self a favor and do some research or homework into it, and don’t make accusations with out knowing all the facts in addition to be well prepared and know exactly what your are talking about when dealing with trees and its biology. Thank you.

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