955.02 DEFINITIONS.

   As used within this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth in this section:

   (a)   "Tree" means:

      (1)   Any living woody plant with needles or scaletype leaves that has a well defined stem or stems with a diameter of at least six inches at four and one-half feet from the surface of the ground.

      (2)   Any living, self-supporting woody broad leaf plant that has a well-defined stem or stems with a diameter of at least two inches at four and one-half feet from the surface of the ground.

      (3)   Any living self-supporting woody plant that has a well-defined stem or stems which has been intentionally cultivated and established.

   (b)   "Public trees" includes all trees now or hereafter growing on any street, park or any other public site.

   (c)   "Streets, alleys, highways or ways" mean the entire width of every public way or right of way when any part thereof is open to the use of the public, as a matter of right, for purposes of vehicular and pedestrian traffic.

   (d)   "Property line" means the legal boundary line between private and City-owned land.

   (e)   "Tree lawn" means that part of a street not covered by a sidewalk or other paving, lying between the property line and that portion of the street usually used for vehicular traffic.

   (f)   "Property owner" means the person owning such property as shown by the County Auditor's Plat of Portage County, State of Ohio.

   (g)   "Large trees" are designated as those attaining a height of forty-five feet or more.

   (h)   "Medium trees" are designated as those attaining a height of thirty to forty-five feet.

   (i)   "Small trees" are designated as those under thirty feet.

   (j)   "Remove or removal" means the removal of all above and below ground parts, including the stump and roots.

   (k)   "Diameter at breast height, (D.B.H.)" means a tree's diameter in inches measured by a diameter tape at four and one-half feet from the surface of the ground. On trees having multiple stems, the largest diameter stem will be measured.

   (l)   "Parks" includes any City public spaces designated for recreation and/or conservation.

   (m)   "Public site" includes any other ground owned by the City.

   (n)   "Dripline" means the approximately circular vertical extension to the ground of the outer most branches and/or leaves of the tree as an indication of the spread of the root system.

      (Ord. 1991-128. Passed 10-23-91.)