by TRC_Admin | Feb 10, 2023 | Trees
Photo: Times Files
Tree advocates and builders reached what was called a historic compromise on protecting the city’s award-winning tree canopy in the spring of 2019. A week later, a new state law gutted much of Tampa’s and other local governments’ power to set rules about tree removals.
At the time, exasperated city officials and advocates raised concerns about the law’s provisions allowing grand trees to be cut down as long as a certified arborist or landscape architect signed off, cutting city inspectors out of the process. Some large-scale removals that summer ratcheted up their fears.
Nearly three years later the city hopes to figure out if those fears were justified.
Brian Knox, the city’s senior forester examiner, says an upcoming analysis of the city’s canopy is planned for release in 2022. A similar analysis in 2016 found 32 percent of the city covered by tree canopy.
And while the data isn’t in yet, Knox has a pretty good idea what it will say.
“I expect we will see a decline in the canopy,” Knox said.
It’s not just the state law, he said. Tampa’s hot development streak has also taken a toll as new houses or commercial developments often require the removal of mature shade trees. Although they’re often replaced with younger trees (developers can also pay into a city tree-planting fund as an alternative), it can often take at least a decade for the canopy to be replenished.
Still, the state’s preemption of the city’s tree code, in place since the early 1970s, has likely had an effect, Knox said. How much of one is hard to know since the law has no provision for a property owner to inform the city if trees are removed because they’re deemed dangerous to persons or property.
“We really don’t have a way to monitor the information. We can’t really factor the trees that are removed in our decision making,” Knox said. “That’s the part that makes it difficult.”…
Want to find a certified arborist and other tree-related resources? Knox suggests these websites: www.treesaregood.org and www.tampa.gov/construction-services/tree-information.
Charlie Frago, Times staff
Read entire article
by TRC_Admin | Jan 23, 2023 | Historic
Photo: Courtesy Photo in Naples Florida Weekly
“The Everglades Society for Historic Preservation, Inc. reported its Bank of Everglades building project was included for funding in the Fiscal Year 2023 Omnibus Appropriations bill. With support of Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart, the Bank of Everglades was appropriated $3 million from Transportation, Housing and Urban Development funds for community and economic development. These and other funds will be directed at stabilizing the building and its foundation, securing its structural integrity.
The Bank of Everglades building, located in the heart of Everglades City and individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is a prominent reminder of the heritage of Everglades City and the development of Collier County and Southwest Florida.
Recognizing the importance of saving the structure, ESHP has undertaken its rehabilitation. The building has survived hurricanes and floods, gone through uses as a rooming house and then bed and breakfast, only to be vacant for more than six years. Once rehabilitation is completed, a multi-year, multi-phase undertaking, the building will serve as the Everglades Area Visitor Center as well as one of Florida’s Trail Town Headquarters. In addition, the renovated structure will be available for community meetings, educational programming, travelling exhibits and other activities appealing to visitors and supporting local businesses and community groups…
For information, visit www.eshp.org
— Naples Florida Weekly
Read entire article
by TRC_Admin | Jan 23, 2023 | Billboards, City Signs, Codes
Photo: John Hart, Wisconsin State Journal
“A federal appeals court has rejected a lawsuit by Adams Outdoor Advertising that claimed the city of Madison’s sign ordinance is unconstitutional.
The city and Adams have been battling in court over the city’s sign ordinances for decades, with the newly decided federal lawsuit filed in 2017. Adams owns and operates many billboards in Wisconsin, including about 90 in Madison.
Adams’federal lawsuit began as a sweeping First Amendment challenge to the city’s sign ordinance under a legal standard set in a previous U.S. Supreme Court case involving another municipality. It also challenged the city’s distinction between on- and off-premises signs as well as regulation of digital signs.
In April 2017, Adams submitted 26 applications to the city seeking to modify or replace existing billboards, including raising the height of structures and installing digital sign faces. In June 2017, then-city zoning administrator Matthew Tucker denied 25 of the 26 permits, citing ordinance provisions the proposed modifications would violate. The next month, Adams filed the lawsuit in federal court.
In April 2020, a federal judge dismissed the challenge, saying there’s no constitutional problem with Madison’s sign ordinance. ‘Whether the Capitol Square should look like Times Square is a decision that Madison city government is entitled to make,’ U.S. District Judge James Peterson said at the time.
Adams appealed that decision.
Now, on Jan. 4, in a 16-page decision, the U.S. Court of Appeals, 7th Circuit, upheld the federal district court’s dismissal of Adams’ claims.
‘The city is pleased with this outcome,” Assistant City Attorney Lara Mainella said. “It supports and reinforces our understanding of the law. The city has always been careful to enact and enforce its sign regulations in a way that honors the First Amendment speech rights of those who wish to display signs in our city…'”
— Dean Mosiman, Wisconsin State Journal
Read entire article
by TRC_Admin | Jan 23, 2023 | Billboards, Technology
Photo: Credited as “provided” as seen on New York FOX TV
“…People can now post their own photos on a massive billboard in the heart of Times Square to be displayed throughout the day for $150…
The project, called Welcome-to-Times-Square.com, was launched by Miami-based lawyer Jaime Suarez and began with the idea of helping local brands advertise in Times Square at an affordable price. But the project took an ‘interesting turn’ when Suarez then had the idea of letting regular people post their own pictures, directly from their phones, according to a press release.
…Slots can be booked at TimesSquareBillboard.com, where people can pick a date, upload a photo, and pay $150. The photo will then appear on the billboard for 15 seconds once an hour for 24 hours on the date they selected.
‘We will send you your exact hourly time slot to the email you provided while booking at least one day prior to your display date,’ the website states…”
— Kelly Hayes, New York FOX TV
Read entire article
by TRC_Admin | Jan 23, 2023 | Undergrounding
Photo: NBC-2.com
“…The underground cables have been a concept brought to NBC2 since 2013. Now ten years and a Category 4 hurricane later, a FPL ‘Storm Secure’ sign is posted on the corner of Estero Blvd and Carolina Ave.
‘I know other communities have done it and had some success with it,’ said Jason Cantrell, Fort Myers Beach resident.
Cantrell lives down the street from the sign. He said it brings him hope after he came back to Estero Island to 13 feet of water damage.
‘There was no power when we got here. Everything had been ripped off from the house, so there wasn’t even connection to the house,’ he said.
Cantrell claimed FPL was ready to respond, but first, he had to bring in an electrician.
‘To have those underground and not have to worry about the wind damage would certainly speed recovery up and allow people to get back quicker,’ he said.
Underground power lines are great against wind damage, but it’s no silver bullet. Ian proved that. About 25% of LCEC lines are underground. On Sanibel, a storm surge washed away some of the transformers.
NBC2 asked FPL why the sign is posted and when underground power lines could come to the area. FPL said it does not have any current Undergrounding projects on Fort Myers Beach…”
— Jennifer Kveglis, NBC-2.com
Read entire article
