The removal of a 36-inch Historic Live Oak Tree was approved Monday evening by the Lady Lake Commission with a vote of 5-0.
The tree will be removed to accommodate improvements to the Orange Blossom Hills Golf Maintenance Facility.
The Village Center Community Development District has asked to remove the tree because it is located 19 inches from the foundation of the maintenance building. The
Although the Town of Lady Lake has a tough standard to meet before historic trees are removed, with most cases being considered by the Tree and Beautification Advisory Committee before obtaining approval, the tree in question does not fall under the committee’s jurisdiction.
A citizen of Lady Lake questioned the lack of hindsight when building a building within close proximity to a such a large tree. “Before that community annexed in to the town of Lady Lake, that facility existed” said commissioner Jim Richards. “The building was never apart of Lady Lake at that point, so I don’t they ever approved.”
Representatives handling the construction and planning for the upgrades to the facility indicated that the building itself was one of the first erected by Harold Schwartz, and that the tree most likely did not exist at that time.
