The Lady Lake Planning and Zoning Board has approved Resolution 2024-106, which permits the removal of two historic Live Oak trees from the Hammock Oaks Commercial Site. This decision follows a detailed evaluation process of the Land Development Regulations, which mandates a variance application for the removal of any healthy historic tree on commercial property.

The property, owned by SK Hammock Oaks, is a 20.43-acre site at the southeast corner of Cherry Lake Road and Highway 466. Initially, a site plan submitted on November 6, 2023, included a 60,724 square foot retail grocery store and a 1,618 square foot fuel kiosk, along with a request to remove eight historic trees. This initial request was denied by the Town Commission in January 2024.

In response, the applicant revised the site plan, reducing the grocery store’s size to 45,603 square feet and lowering the number of trees to be removed from eight to two. According to the applicant, this modification aims to minimize the impact on the site’s historic trees.

Laurie Hall, a Professional Landscape Architect and ISA Certified Arborist, evaluated the tree clusters and identified them as several individual trees rather than single large trees. The mitigation fee for removing the two historic trees is set at $20,800, which will be paid to the Town’s Tree Bank to offset the loss.

Public notices were sent to surrounding property owners and signs were posted on the property to inform the community of the proposed variance. The Technical Review Committee reviewed and endorsed the resolution, finding it ready for consideration.

The Planning and Zoning Board’s approval will be forwarded to the Town Commission with a recommendation for approval. The Town Commission is scheduled to hold the first and final reading of the resolution on August 5, 2024.

You can read the full report here.