The intent of this article is to perpetuate selected native tree species of Mexico Beach by requiring their on-site preservation. This article does not intend to deny reasonable use of private property, nor is it intended to delay or disrupt the development process; its purpose is to foster development responsive to, and protective of, local natural landscapes. The preservation of native trees and shrubbery will provide community-wide aesthetic benefits and indirect monetary worth by enhancing property values.
In a coastal environment, infertile soils and excessive salt mist limit tree and vegetation types to those species tolerant of harsh growing conditions. The conditions mentioned above diminish growth even among species adapted to a coastal environment. This creates extreme time lags between the implementation of landscape designs relying on replanting and the actual intended aesthetic affect of these designs. For this reason, preservation of existing trees is desired over replacement of removed trees; developers are urged to go beyond the minimum requirements of this Code in incorporating existing native vegetation into site design.
The following paragraphs define those trees protected from removal during development and levels of protection and replacement schedules for those protected trees removed in the course of development. A developer should apply the provisions of this Article to a proposed development site before any other development design work is done. Application of the provisions of this Article will divide a proposed development site into areas that may be developed and areas that must generally be left free of development activity. The proposed development should thus be designed to fit within the areas that may be developed.
(Ord. 711, passed 2-5-2019)