For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
APPLICANT. An owner of a lot, parcel or tract of land for which an application has been filed for a permit, subdivision, or any activity requiring the issuance of a permit. A contractor is an agent, acting on behalf of an APPLICANT - the landowner.
AMERICAN NATIONAL STANDARDS INSTITUTE (Hereinafter called ANSI). The primary organization for fostering the development of workplace standards in the United States.
ARBORIST. Any individual experienced in the profession of forestry or a related field and is licensed or certified in forestry by an accredited forestry industry body, e.g. International Society of Arboriculture.
BUCKTHORN. An undesirable exotic invasive ornamental shrub introduced to North America. This species inhabits woodlands and savannas where it dominates the landscape prohibiting the development of native trees and plants. There are six species of buckthorn listed in the Illinois Exotic Weed Act, which prohibits the sale, distribution, or planting of this species, Rhamnus cathartica, frangula, argula, utilis and japonica.
BUILDING ACTIVITY AREA. The portion of a property within which development activity, including grading, excavation, storage of materials, construction access and construction of both main building and unattached structures.
CANOPY. The upper portion of a tree is sometimes called the crown. This section of the tree usually contains branches and leaves.
CITY ARBORIST. Either a designated employee of the Department of Public Works certified as an arborist a certified arborist hired by the city or any person, contractor, or firm in the occupation or business of consulting, interacting, or in any way impacting trees on city property that has a certified arborist on staff in order to undertake any activity on trees, including but not limited to pruning, planting, treating, or removing any tree.
CITY COUNCIL. The Mayor and Alderman of the City of Blue Island, Cook County, Illinois.
CITY PROPERTY. Land lying between private property lines, or within the lines of either side of all streets, avenues, boulevards, lanes, squares, courts, cul-de-sacs, alleys, or other public rights-of-way or grounds, including but not limited to parkways, sidewalks, and curbs, or any other village owned land.
CRITICAL ROOT ZONE. An area on the ground extending out from the trunk of the tree in all directions a distance of at least one foot for every inch DBH.
CUTTING. Felling or removal of a tree, or any procedure that results in the death or substantial destruction of a tree. CUTTING does not include normal pruning or trimming of trees consistent with good forestry practices.
DECIDUOUS TREE. A deciduous tree is one that loses most or all of its leaves for part of the year.
DEVELOPMENT. Any proposed change in the use or character of land, including, but not limited to the replacement of any structure or site improvements, e.g. irrigation installation, driveway replacement, installation of a retaining wall among others. When appropriate to the context, development may refer to the receipt or necessity of any building, tree or site work permit.
DIAMETER AT BREAST HEIGHT. The diameter of the trunk of the tree measured in inches at a point 4.5 feet above ground line. This forestry standard measurement is used for established and mature trees and is referred to as “DBH”. All reference to diameter size shall be to the DBH.
INFRASTRUCTURE. The basic underlying framework or features that provide collective services, including but not limited to roads, waterlines, storm sewers, bioswales, and trees.
INVASIVE SPECIES. An introduced or exotic species that significantly modifies or disrupts the ecosystem in which it colonizes (e.g., buckthorn).
LANDSCAPE CONTRACTOR. A company or individual contracted to perform landscape services.
NUISANCE TREES. Nuisance trees are trees that may provide potential impacts to other trees, people or structures. This would include, but not be limited to, diseased, infested, structurally unsound trees or known invasive species.
PARCEL. A single parcel shall mean any lot of record, zoning lot or any grouping of adjacent lots under single ownership, serving a principal structure or use.
PROPERTY OWNER. The record owner or contract purchaser of any parcel of land.
PUBLIC WORKS SUPERINTENDENT. The person responsible for the operation of the Department of Public Works in the City of Blue Island, Illinois and who is responsible in the first instance to enforce the terms and provisions of this chapter.
REAR YARD. As used in this chapter shall have the same meaning as ascribed to in the Zoning Code.
REGULATED ARTICLES. Any insects at any living stage of development, any quarantined materials such as wood products including, but not limited to chips, limbs, lumber, firewood, contaminated soils, or any other product or means of conveyance which may be determined by Federal or State departments of agriculture to pose a risk of spread of any infestation or infection.
SIMPLE TREE REMOVAL. Removal of a tree without other associated site impacts or other site improvements.
SITE. That parcel of land for which a permit for landscaping or tree removal is sought.
STREET TREE REMOVAL. Any tree located on or within the public right-of-way easement.
TRANSPLANTING. The removal of any tree for replanting elsewhere.
TREE. Any self-supporting woody plant, together with its root system, trunk and canopy; growing upon the earth usually with one trunk, or a multi-stemmed trunk system, supporting a definitely formed crown.
TREE REMOVAL. The cutting down, destruction, removal or relocation of any tree, including damaging by poison or other direct or indirect action.
TREES, SHRUBS AND OTHER PLANTS. All vegetation, woody, or otherwise, except lawn grass and flowers less than 24 inches in height.
URBAN FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN. A detailed plan developed and approved by the Mayor and Aldermen of the city under the direction of the City Arborist which protects this valuable infrastructure and outlines thoughtful strategies for tree planting, selection, care and preservation for the city and complies with recognized national standards.
VIABLE. A tree, which in the judgment of the Public Works Department, is capable of sustaining its own life processes, unaided by man, for a reasonable period of time.
(Prior Code, § 98.003) (Ord. 94-301, passed 8-9-1994; Ord. 2017-005, passed 2-27-2017; Ord. 2023-039, passed 9-26-2023)