Coral Gables withdraws permit for 30-year Christmas tree lot
City officials cited questions over charitable requirements and financial agreements, but the operator says they had already spent $130,000 preparing for the holiday season.
By Rebecca Foster ·
The City of Coral Gables withdrew the permit application for Firefighters Christmas Trees Inc., ending a holiday operation that has run on Granada Boulevard for more than three decades. The decision leaves the annual tree sale in jeopardy ahead of the 2026 holiday season. Mayor Vince Lago’s office raised concerns about the business arrangement with the Coral Gables Firefighters Benevolent Association, specifically regarding the use of the association's name and the operation's compliance with city charitable requirements.
Paul Boutin, a retired fire captain who owns the business, had already committed approximately $130,000 to prepare for the season when the city began questioning the arrangement. The permit application was subsequently withdrawn. For over 30 years, families in Coral Gables purchased trees from this specific lot, a tradition that Boutin helped establish. The business operated under an agreement with the firefighters' benevolent association, a relationship that city officials reviewed only in the final days of October.
The controversy emerged after the city approved the operation for years without addressing the specific concerns now raised. Commissioner Ariel Fernandez suggested the city could allow the operation to continue for the 2026 season while resolving the outstanding questions about financial disclosures and charitable contributions. Instead, city officials chose to pull the permit. Fernandez argued that the city should have put additional requirements in writing to reach an agreement rather than letting the tradition lapse.
Political questions arose regarding the timing of the dispute. Commissioner Melissa Castro questioned whether the conflict was linked to the firefighters' union supporting her campaign against Mayor Lago. Lago denied any political motivation for the permit withdrawal. The union's support for Castro came to light as the city and the business owner struggled to resolve their differences before the holiday rush. Castro stated that the public deserves a complete explanation for why a longstanding business suddenly became a point of contention so close to an election.
City officials maintain that they have a responsibility to enforce rules and ensure transparency. However, the operator argues that the city waited too long to address the issues. If the city believed additional charitable contributions were necessary, proponents of the tree lot argue those requirements should have been communicated earlier. The current situation has left a small business owner and a local community tradition on hold. The permit withdrawal means the familiar lot on Granada Boulevard may not open as it has for the last 30 years.
The city has not yet announced a final decision on whether the trees will be sold this year. Mayor Lago has not issued a formal statement detailing the specific steps taken to resolve the dispute. The next scheduled step involves the city releasing relevant records to explain when the concerns were discovered and what efforts were made to fix them. Residents and business owners are waiting for those details before the holiday season begins.
