Officials have denied a request from Walmart to cut down historic trees to clear the way for the construction of a new store.
The Lady Lake Planning and Zoning Board by a 3-0 vote on Monday night denied the request for the removal of 11 of the 21 historic trees at the site of the store to be built at the corner of County Road 466 and Cherry Lake Road.
Walmart brought in an arborist from Bradenton, David Landers.
He described “root pruning” that would be used for the existing 10 trees which would remain at the 20.43 acre site. The “root pruned” trees would have to try to survive amidst the new asphalt, parking, retention walls and an enormous building.
Village of Mira Mesa resident Richard Bryce, who ticked off a resume thick in landscaping, horticulture and urban planning, said the “root pruning” described by Walmart’s paid arborist would essentially be their death warrant.
“There needs to be more looked into as far as seeing what we can do to preserve the trees. This is history. This is something we need to do,” Bryce said.
He estimated the trees at the site are more than 200 years old.
The large crowd assembled for the meeting applauded when Bryce made the plea for the protection of the trees.
Planning and Zoning Board member James Saunders made a motion to deny Walmart’s request for the tree removal. It was seconded by Planning and Zoning Board member Robert Galloway. The board’s chair, Dorilyn Furch, also voted against Walmart’s request for the removal of the trees.
The Planning and Zoning Board’s decision is not final. It acts as an advisory board to the Lady Lake Commission, which will have the final say.