The St. Augustine Beach City Commission showed no appetite Monday night for spending $400,000 to purchase a small lot to preserve a large oak tree, with members citing budget constraints, limited public benefit and existing protections.
The 0.1-acre parcel, known as Lot 7, sits on the north side of 7th Street just west of A1A Beach Boulevard and is owned by HVG Properties.
The plot was offered to the city for $400,000 following a proposal from realtor Rich O’Brien, a former mayor, who suggested that ownership would ensure the oak tree is protected for the rest of its natural life.
But the commissioners made it clear that the purchase won’t move forward.
“It would be great to preserve it, but we don’t have the money to do it,” Commissioner Dylan Rumrell said flatly.
Rumrell suggested the owner could consider donating the property to the city in exchange for a tax write-off if preservation was the goal.
The oak tree has been protected since 2019, when the city approved a conditional use permit to allow for the building residential homes on nearby lots in a commercial zone.
As part of that deal, the tree was required to remain untouched, with protective barriers installed and restrictions preventing equipment or materials from being stored on the lot.
City staff had outlined potential reasons for purchasing the parcel, including long-term control over the tree’s protection, the ability to address damage from future nearby development, and flexibility to determine the lot’s use once the tree eventually dies.
Commissioners, however, questioned whether those benefits justified the cost.
“It’s a nice piece of property and I appreciate you bringing this to us,” Vice Mayor Ginny Morgan said. “I just cannot justify spending the money on it. In my mind, it’s a nonstarter.”
Newly installed Mayor Beth Sweeney emphasized that the tree’s protection does not hinge on the city purchasing the land.
“Whether or not we purchase it, the tree is still protected,” Sweeney said, pointing to the existing preservation agreement tied to the 2019 permit.
