Palm Sunday

The Miami Herald whines Miami Beach may allow developers to plant more palm trees. That could mean less shade 

The city of Miami Beach has pursued a plan in recent years to add canopy trees while making palm trees less of a priority, as officials seek to counteract the effects of climate change and bring more shade to the city. But the city’s elected officials are now pushing back on parts of that approach, going against the wishes of environmental advocates and the city’s own staff.

This month, the City Commission gave initial approval to a proposal that would allow developers to plant palm trees around new construction instead of larger trees that provide more shade.

Under the proposal championed by Mayor Steven Meiner, two palm trees could be planted instead of one canopy tree. Meiner had originally proposed allowing a one-to-one ratio of palms to canopy trees. “The city is adding many, many shade trees. It’s great, love it,” Meiner said at a Dec. 11 meeting. “But not at the expense ... of palm trees.”

The current law, which says palms don’t count toward minimum street tree requirements under city code, “takes away property rights of the owners” and removes their “autonomy to build as they wish,” Meiner added.