(A) Requirement for trees. Street trees shall be required wherever a proposed subdivision shall average three or more lots per gross acre, or where the proposed subdivision is adjacent to any existing or recorded development having street trees.
(B) Shade Tree Commission review. The Commission shall review all development and redevelopment plans meeting the above criteria to assure the planting of the proper trees.
(C) Installation and completion of improvements (of which public trees are one). Before starting any construction or installation of improvements, the developer shall notify the borough of his or her intention to initiate such work. The developer’s plans or the individual lot owner’s building permit should list the proposed tree types and planting sites. The borough shall authorize the Commission to monitor and inspect the installation of improvements during their construction.
(D) Materials.
(1) Acquisition of trees. Only trees grown in nurseries and trained as street trees shall be procured for public tree planting. Trees should be true to form and typical of the species.
(2) Preferred tree species.
(a) Street trees within the same block shall be of varied species, except to achieve a special effect as approved by the Commission.
(b) All plant material used shall be selected from the following plant list. If the property owner or developer is confronted with an unforeseen problem pertaining to tree species, the Commission shall be consulted for advice and recommendations.
Small Trees Under 30 Feet |
Amur Maple |
“Centurion” Crabapple |
“Columnar” Sargent Cherry |
Crimson Cloud Hawthorn |
“Cumulus” Serviceberry |
“Dancer” Ornamental Pear |
“Fastigiata” European Hornbeam |
Globe Norway Maple |
Hedge Maple (Do not plant between curb and sidewalk) |
“Ivory Silk” Japanese Tree Lilac |
Kousa Dogwood |
“Madonna” Crabapple |
“Spring Snow” Crabapple |
“Sugar Tyme” Crabapple |
“Summer Snow” Japanese Tree Lilac |
Medium Trees 30 - 45 Feet |
American Hornbeam |
Amur Corktree |
“Aristocrat” Callery Pear |
“Autumn Blaze” Callery Pear |
“Bradford” Callery Pear |
“Chanticleer” Callery Pear |
Golden Rain Tree |
“Imperial” Thornless Honeylocust |
“Redspire” Callery Pear |
Ruby Red Horsechestnut |
Yellowwood |
Large Trees Over 45 Feet (Parks Only) |
“All Seasons” Sugar Hackberry |
American Linden/Basswood |
“Autumn Applause” White Ash |
Black Gum |
“Champaign County” White Ash |
Chinese Elm |
Dawn Redwood |
English Oak |
“Glenleven” Littleleaf Linden |
Green Ash (Cultivar variety) |
“Greenspire” Littleleaf Linden |
Kentucky Coffee Tree |
“Lakeview” Ginkgo |
“Legend” American Linden |
London Planetree |
October Glory Red Maple |
“Patmore” Green Ash |
“Princeton Sentry” Ginkgo |
Rosehill White Ash |
“Shademaster” Honeylocust |
“Shawnee Brave” Bald Cypress |
Shumard Oak |
Silver Linden |
“Skyline” Honeylocust |
Sugar Maple |
Turkish Hazel or Turkish Filbert |
Zelkova |
(c) The use of any tree other than those listed above shall require the prior approval of the Commission.
(d) Not all trees on this list are suitable for all situations. Suitability shall be determined by the Commission. Additionally, as new varieties are developed and existing ones improved, this list may be amended.
(3) Tree specifications.
(a) Each tree shall be at least eight feet in height and have a diameter of at least one and one- half inches measured at a height of six inches above the finished ground level.
(b) Plant material shall be balled and burlapped with native soil in which the material had been growing (no manufactured balls).
(c) The relationship between tree caliper, tree height, and diameter of the root ball shall be as follows.
Caliper | Height Range | Minimum Ball Diameter |
1-1/2 to 1-3/4 inches | 8 to 10 feet | 20 inches |
1-3/4 to 2 inches | 10 to 12 feet | 22 inches |
2 to 2-1/2 inches | 12 to 14 feet | 24 inches |
Trees with larger caliper trunks shall have ball diameters in proportion to their size and in accordance with accepted nursery practices. | ||
(E) Planting methods.
(1) Planting locations.
(a) The actual location of each individual tree shall be determined considering views, proximity of utility poles, overhead and guy wires, driveways, and subsurface utility installations.
(b) Trees shall be planted at least 30 feet from street intersections; at least 15 feet from driveways, alleys, and utility poles.
(c) Spacing of trees should be determined by the Commission according to local conditions, the species, cultivars, or varieties used, their mature height, spread, and form. Generally, all small-sized trees shall be planted a minimum of 25 feet on center; all medium-sized trees shall be planted a minimum of 35 feet on center; and all large-sized trees shall be planted a minimum of 45 feet on center. Whenever possible, street trees shall be planted alternately along each side of all streets of the development. Trees shall be spaced without regard to property lines.
(d) The cross-sectional location of street trees shall be as follows (as a guide).
1. No overhead utility wires. Trees shall be located within right-of-way, on center between the curb and sidewalk.
2. Utility wires overhead. Trees shall be located between the sidewalk and building setback line, and at least five feet from the sidewalk.
(2) Planting specification.
(a) Except where waived by the Commission, trees within the same block shall be planted at the same time. Balled and burlapped material may be planted during any period of the year when the soil is frost-free and friable.
(b) Tree pits shall be at least ten inches wider in diameter than the diameter of the root ball. Unless building debris is encountered, the hole shall be excavated to a depth no greater than to permit the top of the ball to be level with the rim of the hole. All encountered debris should be removed to a minimum depth of 30 inches.
(c) As different trees require different soil conditions, it may be necessary to add materials such as fertilizers, sand, and the like, to the existing soil prior to planting. The Commission should consult with experts such as those from the cooperative extension service.
(d) The burlap and twine covering the upper half of the ball shall be rolled back or cut away after the plant has been set.
(e) Trees shall be staked with no less than two-inch by two-inch stakes driven two and one- half to three feet into the ground. Two stakes shall be required for trees less than two inches in caliper and three for trees greater than two inches in caliper. The trunk shall be protected by placing a short piece of three-fourths inch diameter, two ply, reinforced hose around the guy wire where it comes in contact with the tree (see figure A). All stakes shall be of the same height or uniform appearance and support.
(f) The planting hole shall be backfilled to three-fourths full with soil, followed by ten gallons of water. When the water has been absorbed, the hole shall be filled with topsoil and tamped lightly to finished grade.
(g) Upon completion of the transplanting operation, a wood chip or bark mulch, two inches deep, shall be placed over the planting area.
(h) All unused soil or other debris resulting from the planting or plant material shall be removed from the project area.
(F) Period of establishment.
(1) Maintenance.
(a) Plant maintenance shall begin immediately after each plant is satisfactorily installed and shall continue until final inspection by the Commission.
(b) Plant maintenance shall include, but need not be limited to, replacing mulch that has been displaced by erosion or other means, maintaining stakes and guys as originally installed, watering when needed or directed, and performing any other work required to keep the plants in healthy condition. An adequate moisture supply is estimated to be the equivalent of one inch of water per week, delivered at weekly intervals in the form of rain, or augmented as required by periodic watering.
(c) The developer shall remove and replace all dead, defective, and rejected plants as occur during this period.
(d) Remove guy wire(s) and stakes one year after planting.
(2) Guarantee. In addition to other standard provisions, the developer’s improvement bond shall also provide for the following:
(a) Maintenance necessary during establishment period; and
(b) Replacement in kind, or with a substitute acceptable to the Commission, of all plant material which is not a healthy growing condition, which has died back, or is beyond normal pruning limits.
(Prior Code, Ch. 25, Pt. 1, § 105) (Ord. 2-90, passed 6-4-1990)