Miami’s tree canopy is vital in combating flooding, rising temperatures, and environmental degradation, and in providing habitat for our urban wildlife, especially birds. Yet, proposed changes to Miami’s Tree Ordinance and Tree Trust Fund weaken protections, prioritizing developers over residents and the environment. City Commissioners must vote no on these changes when the proposal comes back before the commission on December 12.
Urban trees reduce stormwater runoff, critical in flood-prone Miami, and combat the urban heat island effect by cooling neighborhoods by up to 9 degrees. They improve air quality, reduce energy costs, and increase property values by up to 15%. Mature trees provide exponentially more benefits than saplings, yet the proposed changes make it easier to remove them and divert Tree Trust Fund resources away from replanting efforts.
These changes are a developer’s dream but our community’s nightmare, threatening resilience and quality of life. City Commissioners have a responsibility to protect Miami’s future, not sell it out to developers. A vote against these changes is a vote for a healthier, more resilient Miami. Let’s not lose sight of what makes our city livable—lush, green spaces that protect us from the worst effects of climate change while enhancing our quality of life.
Commissioners should reject these proposed changes and strengthen our tree protections instead. Our city depends on it.
Sandy Moise
Director of Policy, Urban Paradise Guild
After serving on the Miami Planning Zoning and Appeals Board (PZAB)for 8 years and counting, I can still be amazed at some of the “one size fits all” items that come before us for recommendation to the City Commission. The latest involves making the City’s Chapter 17 Tree Preservation ordinance follow the County’s less stringent one.
City staff, acting upon direction from the City Manager, were recommending the change “to expedite permitting.” Under the County tree ordinance, only protected species such as oaks are required to have a permit for removal, while unprotected species such as avocados, mangos and certain ficus trees can be removed without permit. Talk about not seeing the forest for the trees!
Although three PZAB members, including myself, strenuously objected to the proposed change “without further study,” the vote was 5-3 to follow staff’s recommendation. Now it goes to the City Commission where “expedited permitting” now may be replacing “affordable housing” as the magic words for tweaking Miami 21 Zoning Code in favor of ever more development. “One size fits all” doesn’t work for shoes, nor does it work for neighborhoods.