$10,000 per tree: Nassau County fines property owner $100,000

Posted Saturday, September 5, 2026 5:23 am

Nassau County has imposed a $100,000 fine against the owner of a South Eighth Street property after finding that 10 protected trees were removed without permits, an act the county’s code enforcement magistrate ruled was an “irreversible or irreparable” violation of Amelia Island’s tree-protection ordinance.

The case involves property at 2514 S. Eighth St., near Adams Road, owned by Segovia Ventures LLC. County Code Enforcement first inspected the property May 27 and later cited violations of the county’s rules protecting trees in unincorporated Amelia Island.

The case returns to Nassau County’s Code Enforcement Special Magistrate on Tuesday, Sept. 8, for a compliance hearing.

Special Magistrate Harrison W. Poole found after a July 14 hearing that 10 protected trees had been removed in violation of county law. The order assessed a $10,000 fine for each tree, bringing the total penalty to $100,000. The ruling also requires the property owner to undertake restoration of the site.

County photographs included in the case file show extensive clearing of the property, with numerous large stumps, felled trunks and piles of limbs remaining after the cutting. Other photographs show county stop-work and violation notices posted at the site.

The county issued a stop-work order June 11. Six days later, Code Enforcement notified the property owner that the tree cutting constituted irreversible or irreparable violations. Under the county ordinance, a protected tree generally is a healthy tree at least five inches in diameter at breast height that is not classified as an invasive species. A permit is required before a protected tree can be removed.

The county's tree ordinance was adopted specifically to limit the loss of Amelia Island's tree canopy. It describes the island's maritime forest as a rare coastal biological community that provides storm protection, stormwater storage, soil stabilization and cooling. The ordinance says the benefits of a mature maritime forest cannot be replaced by new plantings within a reasonable period.

At the July hearing, the property owner did not appear, according to Poole's written order. Brian Wauchop of Enterprise Car Rental, identified in the order as a tenant of the property, appeared and testified.

Poole ordered the property owner to submit a restoration plan prepared by an ISA-certified arborist for review by the Code Enforcement Special Magistrate. The plan was due on or before Aug. 14. The owner was also ordered to remove trash, litter and debris from the property by that date.

The county separately cited the property for accumulations of litter and material that could provide breeding areas for mosquitoes, flies, rats or other vermin.

Photographs taken by county officials Aug. 17 show much of the site cleared but document a pile of discarded material remaining near a large tree. Later photographs dated Sept. 2 document numerous remaining tree stumps across the property.

Tuesday's hearing will determine whether the property has complied with Poole's order. It is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. at the James S. Page Governmental Complex, 96135 Nassau Place in Yulee.

The $100,000 fine is already contained in the magistrate's July order. If fines or administrative costs remain unpaid, the county can record a lien against the property.

Comments

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PaulaM

Good

Saturday, September 5 Report this
Mark Tomes

Let's see, a $100,000 fine for clearing some prime real estate? That's a no-brainer for a developer. All just a part of doing business. A $100,000 fine per tree, on the other hand, would put some teeth into the ordinance. And maybe while we're at it, preclude any kind of development at all on the lot and it must be transformed into a park or preserve, with newly planted trees. It wouldn't take much to make a developer stop and think before clearing. Of course, the Republican state legislature will preempt any hindrance like that. I guess the next step is just public shaming of the owner, who wouldn't even show up for the hearing.

Saturday, September 5 Report this
Jackiedorst

Please identify the person responsible for the actions of Segovia Ventures, LLC . Online query identifies Donna Helming of Jacksonville.

Block the company & principle from future building.

Segovia Ventures, L.L.C. is a business entity based in Jacksonville, FL. Established recently on March 5, 2007, this Florida Limited Liability Company is recognized under the document number L07000024649. Governed by the Florida Department Of State, the company is listed in active status in state records.

The principal and mailing address of the company is situated at 3733 W. University Blvd, Suite 204, Jacksonville, FL 32217. This address serves as the central hub for the company's activities and communications.

Overseeing the operations and compliance of this Florida Limited Liability Company is Helming, Donna Mgr, who serves as the registered agent. He operates from 3733 University Blvd W Ste 204, Jacksonville, FL 32217.

The guiding force behind this is Helming, Donna from Jacksonville FL, holding the position of Manager Member.

Entity's FEI/EIN number is 59-3598897. The company made …

Sunday, September 6 Report this
LucyP74

Sadly, when I sent e-mails to our county commissioners about initiating a COUNTY tree protection program, it were as if I had three heads. Unless we stop cutting down old growth trees EVERYWHERE, there will be none left. Development CAN be done sensibly, but developers just choose not to do it. A tree that has been in the ground 20-50-100 years has more value than one that is in a pot and cannot be replaced. It’s foolish to think otherwise. These fines of $10000 per tree are a mere drop in the bucket for these developers. How about $10000 per inch of circumference? I think that would hit harder.

Monday, September 7 Report this

$10,000 per tree: Nassau County fines property owner $100,000

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