The Lady Lake Planning and Zoning Board voted 3-2 Monday to deny a request to remove two historic trees to make way for a medical office the La Plaza Grande Professional Center.
It’s the latest twist in a family’s protracted fight to remove trees to make way for an office building and allow them to sell off the property.
Board members Alfred Monteleone, John Gauder and Michael McKenzie voted to deny the request while William Sigurdson and Gil Pierson voted in favor of the request.
Eighty-three-year-old Ellen Robards owns the property with her daughter, Janet Varnell, and son-in-law Brian Warwick. The trio originally wanted to remove a larger Historic Live Oak, but after push back from town leaders, they revised their plan for the office building and asked instead to remove two smaller trees.
On Nov. 18, a majority of town commissioners indicated to Varnell and Robards that they would not stand in their way as a result of revisions to their plan. However, Commissioner Paul Hannan, who has a history of voting in favor of saving trees, was not present at that meeting. Hannan attended Monday Planning and Zoning Board member but did not speak.
The Planning and Zoning Board acts in an advisory capacity to the commission. Its recommendation is not binding.
The issue will next go back before the town commission.
To read about the Nov. 18 meeting on this matter, follow the link below:
http://villages-news.com/project-stalled-historic-live-oak-finally-wins-chance-move-ahead/