1/19/22 @ 11:30 a.m.

In recognition of Arbor Day tomorrow, the Nassau County Extension Office has released the below information to remind residents of the importance of trees and hiring a certified arborist to find a way to conserve them in your existing landscape. 

From the Extension Office: 
Did you know a healthy, mature tree can add a 9%-19% value to your home? No other landscape plant material adds that value. As we celebrate Arbor Day tomorrow, think about how we can properly care for and maintain our urban trees throughout Nassau County!

Recently, Nassau County staff worked with a local ISA Certified Arborist to help protect trees on Amelia Island near Fire Station #20 by doing regular maintenance. (Tree climbing is really cool, but takes lots and lots and lots of training). When we are concerned about trees within our landscapes, don't immediately think about tree removal- think about tree conservation. The benefits of trees are innumerable, so when wanting to hire an arborist for your landscape to discuss tree maintenance look for an ISA Certified Arborist. Luckily they can all be found here: https://www.treesaregood.org/findanarborist

#FloridaArborDay #trees #AmeliaIsland #NassauCounty #treesaregood #UFIFASExtension

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer

3/17/22 @11:55 a.m.

In May 2021, the Amelia Island Tree Protection Working Group completed its five-year mission in drafting a new Tree Protection Ordinance, modifying the existing Ordinance passed in 2008, as well as modifying Section 37.02, 37.05 and Article 32 of the Land Development Code.

The Nassau County Board of County Commissioners adopted the updated Amelia Island Tree Ordinance, Ordinance No. 2021-012, on August 9, 2021 with an effective date of February 7, 2022.

As outlined in the Ordinance, the Board of County Commissioners created an Amelia Island Tree Ordinance Commission to assist in the administration of the Ordinance. Duties are as follows:

• Develop, recommend, and forward to the Board of County Commissioners a tree planting program that will be approved and updated a minimum of every five (5) years;
• Review tree/canopy restoration plans;
  
• Hear and decide administration appeals from provisions of the Ordinance;
• Recommend to the Board of County Commissioners periodic surveys of trees and vegetation, the designation of canopy roads, and the establishment of a Heritage Tree Program
  

The Amelia Island Tree Ordinance Commission will host their first meeting on Tuesday, March 22, 2022 at 5:00 p.m. in the Commission Chambers located at 96135 Nassau Place, Yulee. The meeting schedule will be determined at the first meeting.

If you have any questions, please contact the Planning Department at (904) 530-6300.

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer

The Board of County Commissioners has been made aware that a contractor has reached out to homeowners stating that they have unhealthy trees on their property that need to be removed. Residents have reported hiring this business to have the tree(s) removed, only to find out that the trees were actually healthy and that this may have been a scheme to generate business. If you are contacted, please do your due diligence to investigate the matter to ensure that you are not a victim of a scam. Contact an ISA certified arborist to conduct an inspection and to provide a tree risk assessment report prior to making any decision to have it removed. You can search for an ISA Arborist at https://www.treesaregood.org/findanarborist
 
It's also important to note that Nassau County’s new Tree Protection Ordinance went into effect on February 7, 2022, and it applies to properties in the unincorporated area of Amelia Island (outside of the City limits). This ordinance requires that a tree removal permit must be issued before the removal of a protected tree can occur. Removal of a protected tree without a permit is a violation of the Land Development Code and can result in the enforcement of penalties ranging from mandatary tree replacement, inch-for-inch and/or up to a $15,000 fine. Property owners and contractors can be held jointly liable for violations.
 
Nassau County’s Tree Ordinance can be found at: https://library.municode.com/fl/nassau_county/codes/code_of_ordinances . See Article 37, Section 37.02.
 
If you have any questions, please contact County Arborist, Garner Cox, at (904) 530-6300 or via e-mail at gcox@nassaucountyfl.com.
 
-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer

1/13/22 @ 11:20 a.m. 

The Tree Protection Ordinance provides standards and regulations to ensure a minimum number of trees are maintained on any lot of parcel; protects and preserves native tree species; protects and preserves natural landscape; fosters and encourages maintenance of natural vegetation; and minimizes loss of trees to development.

Ordinance No. 2021-012 was adopted on August 9, 2021, with an effective date of February 7, 2022.

So what does this mean for residential properties and individuals who live in the unincorporated areas (outside the City limits) of Amelia Island?

• The new Ordinance applies to ALL LAND in the unincorporated area of Amelia Island
• Existing single-family, duplexes and mobile home properties will require a permit for removal of a protected tree. These property uses were previously exempt from tree protection and replacement requirements but are no longer exempt under the new ordinance
• New development will require the submission of a tree protection and replacement plan, and will require replacement of twenty-five percent (25%) of the total caliper inches of the protected trees removed.
• A specimen tree is defined as any healthy Live Oak Quercus Virginiana and Sand Live Oak Quercus geminate measuring forty (40) inches or more in diameter at breast height, or a multi-trunk live oak, as determined by an ISA-certified arborist with an aggregate measurement of sixty (60) inches or more in diameter at breast height
• Removal of any healthy protected tree without a permit or exemption will require violators to replace inch-for-inch one caliper inch for every inch of DBH removed
• Removal of any healthy specimen tree without a permit or exemption will result in a fine up to $15,000
• The property owner and contractor, or person(s) who performed the tree removal, may be held jointly liable

Please note that the Tree Ordinance also applies to non-residential, multi-family and redevelopment.

Before removing any tree, residents, developers, contractors, and commercial property owners should review Section 37.02 of the Land Development Code to understand how the requirements apply to them. Questions should be directed to County Arborist, Garner Cox, at (904) 530-6300 or via email at gcox@nassaucountyfl.com.

Please note that

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer

1/4/22 @ 1:00 p.m.

Amelia Island's tree canopy has communal benefits that preserve the health, safety and general well-being of those residing on Amelia Island, including storm protection, stormwater drainage and treatment, soil stabilization and strengthening, and serving to counter-heat island effects.

In May 2021, the Amelia Island Tree Protection Working Group completed its five-year mission in drafting a new Tree Protection Ordinance, modifying the existing Ordinance passed in 2008, as well as modifying Section 37.02, 37.05 and Article 32 of the Land Development Code.

The Nassau County Board of County Commissioners adopted the updated Amelia Island Tree Ordinance, Ordinance No. 2021-012, on August 9, 2021 with an effective date of February 7, 2022.

As outlined in the Ordinance, the Board of County Commissioners is creating an Amelia Island Tree Ordinance Commission to assist in the administration of the Ordinance. Duties are as follows:

• Develop, recommend, and forward to the Board of County Commissioners a tree planting program that will be approved and updated a minimum of every five (5) years;
• Review tree/canopy restoration plans;
• Hear and decide administration appeals from provisions of the Ordinance;
• Recommend to the Board of County Commissioners periodic surveys of trees and vegetation, the designation of canopy roads, and the establishment of a Heritage Tree Program

The Board of County Commissioners is currently seeking volunteers to serve on the Amelia Island Tree Ordinance Commission. The Commission shall, to the extent possible, include five (5) voting members meeting the following criteria:

• A Planning & Zoning Board representative recommended by the Planning & Zoning Board;
• A Florida licensed Landscape Architect;
• An International Society Arboriculture (ISA) Certified County Arborist;
• Two citizens who are residents of the unincorporated area of Amelia Island

Voting members shall be appointed for staggered, three year terms. Applications will be accepted beginning today through 5:00 p.m. on Friday, February 4, 2022. To apply online, please click here.

If you have any questions, contact the Planning Department at (904) 530-6300 or email planninginfo@nassaucountyfl.com.

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer

8/18/21 @ 4:15 p.m.- At the August 9, 2021 meeting, the Board of County Commissioners approved Ordinance No. 2021-12, amending the Land Development Code to repeal the current unincorporated Amelia Island Tree Protection Ordinance and creating a new tree protection ordinance. The new ordinance will provide a more comprehensive and flexible approach.

The unincorporated Amelia Island tree protection program was originally implemented in 2008 and requires preserving 45% of protected trees for new development including commercial, multi-family, and residential subdivisions (protected trees are native trees with a trunk diameter at breast height/dbh of five inches and greater). The new ordinance will require preserving 25% of protected trees in construction and disturbance zones on a development site, and preserving all protected trees outside those zones in the natural area of the site. Tree protection will also be extended to residential lots outside of subdivisions.

The Ordinance also creates the Nassau County-Amelia Island Tree Commission (NCAITC) to administer tree protection, one member of which will be filled by a soon-to-be-hired County Arborist. The NCAITC will review required tree protection plans for new construction and redevelopment projects, and will at a future date, develop a tree planting program to be considered by the Board of County. This program shall include strategies for planting trees on publicly-held lands in the unincorporated areas of Amelia Island, including rights-of-ways and lands owned or controlled by the Board of County Commissioners and Nassau County School Board, as well as strategies for working with private property owners to plant trees on unincorporated Amelia Island, with the possibility of partnerships using funds from a new Nassau County Tree Fund.

​The new Tree Fund will be a restricted fund which can only be used for purposes outlined in the Ordinance and at the recommendation of the NCAITC. Examples of authorized expenditures include: planting of new trees; performing studies relate to urban forestry, canopy protection an assessments of natural areas; education and outreach initiatives primarily focused on preserving the native canopy, impact of tree loss, value or natural, regenerating areas; and the development of grant applications.

The new Tree Ordinance will go into effect on February 13, 2022. Information on membership for the Tree Committee is forthcoming.

If you have any questions, please reach out to the Planning Department at (904) 530-6300 or via email at planninginfo@nassaucountyfl.com. 

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer
 








-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer

1/7/20 @ 4:30 p.m. - Did you know that invasive vines are bad for our environment? Not only do they spread rapidly and overtake native species, they cause structural problems to  trees and prevent the them from getting the proper amount of sunlight.

The Amelia Island Tree Conservancy and the Nassau County Extension Office have coordinated an event to spread awareness on native and non-native vines and their relationship to the tree canopies. Participants will also learn how to manage vines on their property and develop an understanding on who to contact should you need assistance.

The event will be held on Saturday, January 25, 2020 from 1:00-3:00 p.m. at the Song & Story Neighborhood Bookstore Bistro located at 1430 Park Avenue, Fernandina Beach. The event is free and open to the public.

If you have any questions, please contact the County Extension Office at (904) 530-6350.

-Sabrina Robertson
 County Manager's Office

5/14/18 @ 1:45 p.m. - As a reminder, the Planning & Zoning Board will hold a public hearing on proposed changes to the Amelia Island Tree Ordinance during their regular meeting tomorrow, Tuesday, May 15, 2018, at 6:00 p.m. The proposed changes to the County's land development regulation will only apply to the unincorporated areas of Amelia Island.

The Planning & Zoning Board held a workshop on April 3, 2018, to solicit community feedback and input to the draft, and directed the draft to return for public hearing in May. Anyone interested in the proposed changes are encouraged to attend the public hearing and provide comments on the draft Ordinance.

Who: Nassau County Planning & Zoning Board
When: May 15, 2018 at 6:00 p.m.
Why: Public Hearing on Amelia Island Tree Protection and Replacement Ordinance
Where: James S. Page Governmental Complex, 96135 Nassau Place, Yulee, FL 32097

Attached is flyer containing information on how these changes may affect those located within the unincorporated areas of Amelia Island.

Links to the full proposed Ordinance language and a one-page fact sheet are available on our website.

If you have any questions, please contact the Department of Planning & Economic Opportunity at (904) 530-6300 or e-mail Alyssa Neil at aneil@nassaucountyfl.com.

-Sabrina Robertson
 County Manager's Office

4/9/18 @ 4:10 p.m. - The Nassau County Planning & Zoning Board will hold a public hearing on proposed changes to the Amelia Island Tree Ordinance. The proposed changes to the County's land development regulation only apply to the unincorporated areas of Amelia Island. The Planning & Zoning Board held a workshop on April 3, 2018 to solicit community feedback and input on the draft, and directed the draft to return for a public hearing in May.

Anyone interested in the proposed changes are encouraged to attend the public hearing and provide comments on the draft Ordinance.

Who: Nassau County Planning & Zoning Board
When: May 15, 2018 at 6:00 p.m.
Why: Public Hearing on Amelia Island Tree Protection and Replacement Ordinance
Where: James S. Page Governmental Complex, 96135 Nassau Place, Yulee, FL 32097

Attached is flyer containing information on how these changes may affect those located within the unincorporated areas of Amelia Island.

Links to the full proposed Ordinance language and a one-page fact sheet are available on our website.

If you have any questions, please contact the Department of Planning & Economic Opportunity at (904) 530-6300 or e-mail Alyssa Neil at aneil@nassaucountyfl.com.

-Sabrina Robertson
 County Manager's Office