Brevard County begins cutting back Rockledge Drive oaks despite outcry from residents

Tyler Vazquez, Florida Today
·2 min read

A long-running dispute between Rockledge Drive residents and Brevard County over pruning oak trees lining the scenic road came to a head Monday.

After years of controversy, county workers arrived to begin trimming branches, despite objections from local activists. Large oaks that had provided a shady overhang for the roadway had been cut back severely, a move the county has said was necessary.

The Rockledge Drive Tree Coalition argued the county's pruning plans were excessive and threatened the area's natural beauty and environment. But county officials maintained only modest trimming of unhealthy branches was needed to accommodate emergency vehicles and prepare for future road resurfacing.

Rockledge Drive has earned a reputation as a scenic drive along the Indian River, lined with the older —often historic — homes and the heritage oaks that make it a popular spot for runners, cyclists and anyone hoping to enjoy a taste of what "old Florida" might have been like.Major cuts of any of those oaks, activists have said, could jeopardize that reputation.

Tension between Rockledge Drive residents and the county have been ongoing since at least 2018 when the county first announced plans to pare back the stately oaks. Residents at the time and on multiple subsequent occasions were able to get the county to delay its plans for further review.

Coalition leader Michelle Maricic had hoped a lawsuit filed in April would halt the pruning, but a judge had yet to hear the case's arguments when the trimming commenced.

In a last-ditch effort, the coalition filed an emergency court motion last week seeking a temporary stop to the operations. However, by Monday afternoon, no ruling had been issued and the pruning was already underway.

"Does that look like trimming?" Maricic said, referring to trees that had previously stood tall along the road and was left with without its iconic reach.

A county public works report identified 61 of the over 1,000 trees along the 2.6-mile stretch as requiring trimming, with low-hanging branches impeding the roadway at less than 14 feet of clearance. This overgrowth potentially obstructed emergency and public works vehicle access.

That 14-foot clearance, according to Maricic, was excessive and would remove much of the shade that provides coverage for the roadway. Many of the oaks were hundreds of years old and had been determined healthy by an independent arborist hired by the Coalition, she said.

Maricic and others pointed out that the city of Rockledge, handling services farther north on the same road, managed operations without such severe pruning measures. County officials stated 15 trees required major trimming, 18 needed significant pruning, and 28 required minor trimming.

Those trees facing the most severe trimming had been deemed unhealthy, an impediment to traffic and emergency vehicles or obstructing the roadway, according to the county.

Tyler Vazquez is the Brevard County watchdog reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Vazquez at 321-480-0854 or tvazquez@floridatoday.com.

Monday afternoon in the unincorporated area of Rockledge. Public works personnel from Brevard County and tree trimming contractors began pruning oak trees along Rockledge Drive despite efforts of local residents to stop the project, which they say will ruin the character of the scenic roadway along the Indian River Lagoon.
Monday afternoon in the unincorporated area of Rockledge. Public works personnel from Brevard County and tree trimming contractors began pruning oak trees along Rockledge Drive despite efforts of local residents to stop the project, which they say will ruin the character of the scenic roadway along the Indian River Lagoon.
Monday afternoon in the unincorporated area of Rockledge. Public works personnel from Brevard County and tree trimming contractors began pruning oak trees along Rockledge Drive despite efforts of local residents to stop the project, which they say will ruin the character of the scenic roadway along the Indian River Lagoon.
Monday afternoon in the unincorporated area of Rockledge. Public works personnel from Brevard County and tree trimming contractors began pruning oak trees along Rockledge Drive despite efforts of local residents to stop the project, which they say will ruin the character of the scenic roadway along the Indian River Lagoon.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Brevard County cuts back Rockledge Drive trees despite resident opposition