The Lady Lake Commission is planning a field trip to the Water Oak community to investigate the removal of trees.
Commissioner Dan Vincent, who lives in Water Oak, has publicly complained that trees are being removed to make room for additional housing units. He has said that Sun Communities, the company that owns Water Oak, will happily pay the tree removal fee in order to make way for the additional unit. He said the profit easily pays for the $500 tree removal fee. The $500 fee is the residential rate, and Vincent said he believes Sun Communities should be paying the $2,500 commercial rate.
A date for the field trip has yet to be determined.
The trip will fall under Florida’s Sunshine Law and will be properly noticed, said Town Manager Kris Kollgaard.
Lady Lake has been recognized as a Tree City and the town’s leaders have long taken steps to protect trees.
