Rehoboth Beach adopts new tree code

Although it took years longer than originally expected, Rehoboth Beach has adopted a new tree code. A front-to-back rewrite of the code was approved during a commissioner meeting June 16.

Having been hashed out by commissioners and staff over the past few months, commissioner comment was limited, but the public had an opportunity to comment prior to the vote.

Former commissioner and current planning Commissioner Susan Gay spoke in favor of the changes, saying this is only one piece of the overall puzzle to preserve and protect the city’s trees and natural resources. Looking further, she said, a landscape ordinance should be considered, promoting lawn alternatives, and creating incentives and possible code changes that would benefit trees.

For the past few months, at every meeting with the tree code on the agenda, property owner Tom Gaynor has voiced his displeasure with the proposed changes. Ultimately, commissioners didn’t take any of his suggestions before voting, but he did get one last chance to speak during the meeting.

There are no homeowner-friendly changes, he said. Gay’s comments on changing code related to landscaping and driveways are exactly the problem, he said.

“Once the tree proposal is done, we’re coming for landscaping, driveways and other impervious services on private property that the city does not own,” said Gaynor.

In the end, the code changes passed by a vote of 4-2, with Commissioner Tim Bennett absent.

Commissioner Edward Chrzanowski voted against the changes because, he said, he thought the changes lacked enough focus on trees in public space and the code is still too cumbersome.

Commissioner Jay Lagree also voted no. Instead of fixing code, it was tweaked, he said.

As approved, some changes to code include: reducing the size of trees to be planted from 12 feet tall and 3 inches in diameter to 8 feet tall and 2 inches in diameter; simplifying mitigation for removed trees, requiring tree-for-tree replacement; expanding the list of city-approved tree species that may be replanted; providing greater measures for tree protection during construction, especially of heritage trees; and setting a fee to cover real costs of planting and maintaining a tree on city property for two years.

In addition to the tree code, commissioners also approved a new tree list. Chrzanowski voted against that too.

Public hearing set on changes to parking code

Immediately prior to voting on the tree code, city commissioners set a public hearing on proposed changes to the parking code for Friday, July 21.

The commissioners had been considering a recommendation from the planning commission that would increase hotel parking requirements from one space per room to 1.2. After multiple meetings and public comment, commissioners decided not to move forward with that proposal.

However, there are few proposed changes. One is a change related to hotels having two additional parking spaces for the resident family. As proposed, it would be a generic requirement of two extra spaces and one space per room.

Additional changes include clarifying existing practices related to the minimum number of parking spaces for off-street parking for medical, dental and legal offices; no parking spaces needed for a retail or service shop with less than 15,000 square feet; and a minimum number of off-street parking spaces for all other commercial uses.