Tree-Fallin’
If a tree falls on Miami Beach, would anyone hear it?
If that tree is an Australian Pine; if it falls on historic Pine Tree Drive; and if “anyone” consists of local preservation leaders and concerned citizens — the answer is a resounding “yes.”
The signature trees that canopy Pine Tree Drive are in trouble and city and county figures have begun the process to try and determine how to preserve the city-designated historic roadway’s most beloved feature.
“It’s like the clock is ticking on all of them,” said Herb Sosa, chairman of the Miami Beach Historic Preservation Board.
While it might be easy for motorists to take the scenic, shady roadway and the trees that are its namesake for granted, their condition has come into the spotlight since one large tree — seemingly randomly — fell late this fall.
As it turned out, that falling tree was not a random act illustrating the chaos factor. A subsequent examination of the fallen tree and of the nearly 300 other Australian pine trees (which, technically, are not even actual pine trees) lining the road south of 41st Street revealed that the entire stock is in serious trouble.
“Apparently of the nearly 300 trees originally planted by John Collins, over a third have been preliminarily determined to be diseased,” Sosa said.
The signature trees that canopy Pine Tree Drive are in trouble and city and county figures have begun the process to try and determine how to preserve the city-designated historic roadway’s most beloved feature.
Making the matter worse, subsequent research including an official study conducted by the City of Miami Beach and discussed this week at Tuesday’s Historic Preservation Board meeting, confirms that the average life expectancy of an Australian pine tree is 40-50 years.
“These are close to 100 years old,” Sosa said.
In 1910, John Collins planted Australian pines as a windbreak to protect his young avocado and mango groves. Many of the same pines still stand along what has become Pine Tree Drive. The city’s tree expert says there is decay in the roots and trunks of 32 percent of the 295 pines in the median of Pine Tree Drive.
The city’s report was submitted to the Historic Preservation Board because the roadway between 30th and 46th Streets is designated an Historic District — including the trees.
But the HPB is just one of the parties that will be involved in seeking a solution to the burgeoning problem. Miami-Dade County is involved because the street is actually a county road, according to Tom Mooney, Miami Beach Planning Department’s design and preservation manager.
“It’s a county road even though it has the city’s historic designation,” Mooney said.
“It’s like the clock is ticking on all of them.” — Herb Sosa, chairman of the Miami Beach Historic Preservation Board.
Eventually, the HPB would submit a report to the Miami Beach City Commission, and then whatever action is taken would be a collaborative effort between the city and the country. But whatever action is eventually taken is some time off.
“It’s inevitable that something has to be done and I’d rather consider it sooner rather than later,” said Miami Design Preservation League (MDPL) Chair Charlie Urstadt. “No one wants to wake up one morning and find the pine trees on Pine Tree Drive just gone. My concern is that we must consider a long-term solution and we want the city to preserve the integrity of the road for as long as possible while working on a solution.”
A similar sentiment was broadcast to the city and county at this week’s HPB meeting.
“The next step is for four or five trees to be dissected to determine the level of disease,” Sosa said. He added that while he expects an update of some sort to be presented by county staff in January, he does not know if the “autopsy” results will be available at that time.
Sosa also has deep preservation concerns, but he said that public safety should and will be the number one priority.
“Obviously everyone is concerned about the safety of individuals and of drivers,” Sosa said. “But its also a designated historic roadway and everything is protected including the trees. It’s really the same issues as with a building — how to balance preservation with public safety.”
Other related issues further cloud the matter. The scenic canopy and shade provided by the existing trees certainly positively impacts property values of houses on Pine Tree Drive. Also, the tree roots have created bumps and occasional lesions on the road and a complete repair would likely require the roots be cut, harming the trees. Raising Pine Tree Drive’s surface would elevate it several feet over adjacent streets.
However, the most complicated and vexing issue — the one that prevents a simple and obvious solution that might be a no-brainer were it not the case — is that it is highly unlikely that the Australian pine trees could ever be replaced by other, younger Australian pine trees.
“Australian pine trees are considered an invasive species by the State of Florida,’ Sosa said.
Australian pines are not indigenous to Florida and well after Collins had planted them on Miami Beach (and after Miami Beach planted a few elsewhere in the city, including Flamingo Park), the State determined that their proliferation could negatively impact other, native species.
“If it was determined, and it’s a big ‘if,’ that the trees needed to be replaced, it would be a serious issue that you can’t plant Australian pines in Florida,” Sosa said.
Sosa said that there is precedent for a waiver to permit the re-planting of even invasive species.
“An argument could be made that we are so urban that there [would be no impact of re-planting],” Sosa said. “You don’t see a lot of [indigenous] seedlings around. But we aren’t at that point yet.”
Such a possible waiver also presents an environmental concern.
“If they trees have to be replaced it would be ideal to replace the with Australian pines, but we’re told by law that’s not possible,” Urstadt said. “There is precedent for a special dispensation but environmental laws are there for a reason and they also are there for public safety.”
Still Urstadt said he knows other (and actual) pine trees don’t provide the extent of canopy and shade that do Australian pine trees.
“We’ve gotten the indication that it won’t be possible to replace Australian pine trees with Australian pine trees, but it’s not completely out of the question,’” Sosa said.
Sosa, though, made it clear that this process has really just begun; and that the tree that fell several months ago might be a gift in that it helped prompt the start of the process sooner, rather than later.
“I don’t think it’s a pressing emergency right now, which is fine with me,” Urstadt said. He too is glad that the discussion is underway and that there is no “enemy” in the debate.
“It’s a beautiful street and everyone wants it to stay that way,” Urstadt said.
“No one’s intention is to not have Pine Tree Drive grand and beautiful — it is, after all ‘Pine Tree’ Drive,” Sosa said.
Category: COVER
