Letter: Tree mitigation should offset the loss

Letter: Tree mitigation should offset the loss

Rocky Thompson and Linda Ratz-Broudy
St. Augustine
Publication Date: 09/17/03

Editor: Thank you Gina Burrell. We were waiting for an opportunity to put in our 2 cents worth. Your comments regarding the city attorney's persuasive efforts to rescind the fine and lien of $15,000 against the developer Robert Graubard are well stated. It is interesting that on the very day of your letter, there were six petitions to the Architectural Review Board in the paper, indicating that some feel that it is proper to ask for permission.

We have seen time and time again developers feign ignorance and take the approach that it is better to ask for forgiveness than permission. When the outcome is such as this case, who can blame them? Lest we not forget such lessons from our county such as Cedar Ridge, which after it was originally cleared was "cedar-less" and "ridge-less." When the punishment for violations is as minor as this "mitigation," developers can just chock it up to the cost of "doing business." Mr. Graubard should be held accountable for his actions. After all, if development is his "business" he should know what is required of him. That is simply good business sense.

The bottom line is that any mitigation for the loss of the trees should sufficiently offset the loss and be independent of any other requirements for vegetation in the final development.


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