(A) Planting, maintenance and removal.
(1) A planting permit is required to plant trees in any tree lawn or municipally-owned property. The applicant shall illustrate the number and types of trees or other plants to be planted. The resident shall bear the cost of any requested planting.
(2) A removal permit is required to remove trees in any tree lawn or municipally-owned property. The applicant shall describe the number and kinds of trees to be removed, their size, locations, health/age condition, method of removal and why removal is being requested. The resident shall bear the cost of any requested removal.
(3) Maintenance and trimming of trees may be mandated by the village but costs and actual labor will be the responsibility of the resident. Maintenance and trimming must follow village guidelines.
(B) Abuse. No person shall intentionally damage, cut, carve, transplant, or remove any tree; attach any rope, wire, nails, advertisements, posters, or other contrivance to any tree; allow any gaseous liquid, or solid substance which is harmful to such trees to come into contact with them; or set fire or permit any fire to burn when such fire or heat thereof will injure any portion of any tree on public property or tree lawn.
(C) Construction. All public trees shall be protected during construction.
(1) All trees on any street or other publicly-owned property near any excavation or construction of any building, structure, or street work, shall be guarded with a good substantial fence, frame, or box. The “construction tree guard” shall be not less than four feet high and eight feet square, or at a distance in feet from the trunk equal to the diameter of the trunk at breast height (DBH) in inches, whichever is greater. All building material, dirt, or other debris shall be kept outside the construction tree guard.
(2) No person shall change natural drainage, excavate any ditches, tunnels, trenches, or lay any drive within a radius of ten feet from any public tree without first obtaining a written permit from the Village Administrator.
(3) New subdivisions and commercial areas will require tree plantings to enhance the area.
(4) Various village projects will require the removal of trees. The village may not be responsible for these removals but will be determined on a case by case basis.
(D) Materials. No person shall deposit, place, store, or maintain upon public place of the municipality, any stone, brick, sand, concrete, or other materials which may impede the free passage of water, air, and fertilizer to the roots of any tree growing therein. Sunlight to any public tree cannot be permanently blocked by placement of materials without authorization of the Village Administrator.
(Ord. 1577-11, passed 12-13-2011) Penalty, see § 98.99