Urgent email before Tuesday please
roakley@mypasco.net, sweightman@mypasco.net, kstarkey@mypasco.net, lyeager@mypasco.net, jmariano@mypasco.net, mcarballa@mypasco.net, pcadmin@mypasco.net
Sample Letters:
Subject: Opposition to the Tree Mitigation Acreage Cap - Request for Stricter Preservation Standards
Dear Commissioners,
I am writing to express my strong opposition to the current "fee-in-lieu" structure for tree mitigation in Pasco County, specifically the per-acre cap found in Section 802 of the Land Development Code.
While I understand the goal of providing "predictability" for developers, the current cap of $2,750 per acre (and even the scheduled increase to $3,500) effectively functions as a "pay-to-clear" permit. For a multi-million dollar development, these fees are a negligible cost of doing business. They do not provide a meaningful financial deterrent to clear-cutting, nor do they reflect the decades of environmental value provided by our existing mature canopy.
I urge the Board to reconsider these caps and instead:
Prioritize On-Site Preservation: Require a higher percentage of original canopy to be saved before the "fee-in-lieu" option is even offered.
Remove the Acreage Cap: Fees should be based on the actual ecological loss (per caliper inch), not a flat rate that rewards clearing densely wooded lots.
Incentivize Design: Reward developers who design around existing trees rather than those who clear-cut and pay a small fine into a fund.
Our trees are vital for stormwater management, cooling, and the character of Pasco County. We cannot replant our way out of the loss of mature ecosystems once they are gone.
Sincerely,
[Your Name] [Your Address/District]
Option 2: Short & Impactful
Best for a quick email or for the "Public Comment" portal.
Subject: Protect our Canopy - Stop the "Pay-to-Clear" Mitigation Fees
Dear Commissioners,
I am a resident of District [Your District #], and I am deeply concerned about the scale of clear-cutting happening across Pasco County.
The current tree mitigation caps are far too low. Allowing a developer to clear an entire acre of mature trees for a few thousand dollars is not "mitigation"—it is a bargain for the developer and a permanent loss for our community.
I am asking you to raise the standards for tree preservation. We need rules that make it more expensive to cut down a tree than to design a project around it. Please revisit the acreage cap in the Land Development Code and put the "preservation" back into our tree ordinance.
Respectfully,
[Your Name] [Your Phone Number]
How to send this