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Tree activists to deliver petitionsBy Karen Rivedal Supporters of stricter tree protection in Jacksonville have a special delivery planned today for the Duval County supervisor of elections. Members of Citizens for Tree Preservation Inc. were expected to drop off more than 30,000 individually signed petitions -- about 50 percent more than legally required -- to get a referendum placed on the Nov. 7 ballot. If approved by voters, the measure would amend the city's charter to set minimum standards for tree protection, conservation and mitigation when land is being developed. The rules would apply to both commercial and home builders but would hit home builders harder because they enjoy more lax regulations under a law approved by the City Council in December. Group co-founders John Crescimbeni and Bill Brinton described the petition drive as democracy at work. Barring a successful challenge of the signatures, the group's effort will give every registered voter in Jacksonville the chance to be heard directly on the contentious issue of tree protection. "It's been almost 10 years since the citizens have found the need to exercise this part of their democracy," Crescimbeni said, referencing the last voter-driven referendum, which instated term limits. "But based on what happened in December, a lot of them have done that." Northeast Florida Builders Association President Mitch Montgomery declined to comment on the effort yesterday, saying it was premature to make a statement until the petitions were presented, counted and validated at the elections office. But the powerful builders' lobby has said stricter rules will increase the cost of new homes. The city's current tree law, originally sponsored by Mayor John Delaney, requires home builders to preserve, replace or pay for hardwood trees measuring about six feet around or larger. The group's measure would be twice that strict -- reflecting an earlier law that was long on the books but was never enforced -- and it also would apply to commercial builders. "It just brings it all into one consistent law," said City Councilman Matt Carlucci, who voted for the current law but also supported the group's effort. As under current law, the group's rules would not apply to existing single-family homes. That means a homeowner could always remove any tree in his or her own yard without restriction. Group members also say their rules are actually better for builders in two areas. Unlike current law, the proposed charter amendment would not require replacement or payment for trees defined by the state as invasive species, and it would allow off-site mitigation of cut trees -- meaning a builder could replant some trees on a different property than the one on which they were cut down. "I think if people take the time to read it, it's even better than what was there before," said Councilwoman Suzanne Jenkins, who was one of only three council members to vote against the new law last year on grounds that it wasn't strict enough. Jenkins praised the small group of volunteers that organized the grass-roots referendum drive, noting it isn't easy to collect thousands of signatures for a ballot question even when the issue is relatively popular. Group members began collecting signatures after a kickoff in Hemming Plaza on Feb. 17. Volunteers circulated petitions at public events such as arts festivals and home and patio shows, but collected most of the signatures outside polling places during elections last spring and last week. Along the way, dozens of community organizations pledged their support, including the Greater Arlington Civic Council, the Mandarin Community Club, JaxPride, Greenscape and Riverside-Avondale Preservation -- reflecting the issue's broad appeal, supporters said. Shirley Dasher, executive director of JaxPride, said the petition drive succeeded because people see tree protection as an issue that directly affects their lives. "We don't want to give up that decision to anybody," Dasher said. "We're the ones with the equity and we're the people that support the city and we want to see that our natural resources are protected or replaced." |
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