Pembroke Pines ?Homeowners would get a break if a hurricane knocked down a tree in their yard under a proposed ordinance tentatively passed by city commissioners last week.

The owner would have to plant one tree for every tree lost in a storm or other disaster under the new plan. Currently, Pembroke Pines requires homeowners to replace every tree removed from a yard with two trees. The city adopted Broward County's tree regulations last year, and this is the first time commissioners have considered a tree replacement policy solely for major disasters.

 The new ordinance would apply only to single-family homes and not to multifamily developments, such as Century Village and apartment complexes. Commissioners will consider final approval on Nov. 3.

Three commissioners killed the most controversial aspect of the proposal, which would have required homeowners to get a city permit before planting a new tree for one lost in a hurricane. The owner would have had to apply for the permit within 30 days of losing the tree.

But Commissioners Angelo Castillo, William Armstrong and Iris Siple argued the permit requirement was too big a burden. They approved an amendment that deleted the permit requirement from the ordinance, which all five commissioners supported. "I think this is a Big Brother item," Armstrong said of the permit.

Howard Vollovick, chairman of the city's Landscape Advisory Board, which came up with the idea for the new policy, said permits would have enabled the city to better keep track of trees and ensure owners are properly replacing lost trees. "With permits, you could do a better job of making sure that what is required is being done," Vollovick said.

The new ordinance would require owners to replace a lost tree with a tree that is a minimum of 12 feet tall. If a shade tree is removed, it must be replaced by another shade tree.