The removal of healthy trees over three (3) inches in trunk diameter, the removal or stripping of topsoil or loam from a lot or parcel of land, or the grading, filling or regrading on a lot, shall be permitted as part of an approved landscaping plan or as otherwise required by the Planning Commission, Architectural and Design Review Board, and/or Village Engineer, as applicable.
(a) This section applies to any activity including new construction of a single-family dwelling and tree clearing, grading, topsoil removal and/or placement of fill that disturbs more than 1,000 square feet of ground area.
(b) Landscape Plan Required.
(1) Dwellings or Additions to Existing Single-Family Dwellings. The area being disturbed as part of new construction of or addition to an existing single-family dwelling shall be depicted on a proposed landscape plan as part of the submission requirements in Section 1154.04 for review by the Planning Commission and/or the Architectural and Design Review Board, as applicable.
(2) Any other land disturbing activity governed by this section shall be depicted on a proposed landscape plan for technical review by the Village Engineer. In addition, a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWP3) prepared in conformance with Section 1316.05, shall be submitted for review whenever the area of disturbance is over one tenth (0.1) acre, unless the Village Engineer determines a SWP3 is necessary for a smaller site.
(3) The proposed landscape plan shall depict the following:
A. The existing and proposed site topography, trees, and landscape features;
B. The general extent and calculated area of the land clearing activities; and
C. A depiction of existing trees within the area to be disturbed that are over three inches in trunk diameter, noting which trees are to be preserved, and which trees are to be removed, along with each tree’s diameter measured at a point four and one-half (4.5) feet above ground level.
(c) Whenever approval of a landscaping plan is granted based on the preservation of existing trees, appropriate measures shall be undertaken during construction to protect such existing trees. The Planning Commission, Architectural and Design Review Board and/or Village Engineer may require a plan for protecting the trees as part of the building permit application to ensure that construction activities including changes in site hydrology do not harm the viability of such trees.
(d) If the Village determines that land clearing activities are being conducted in violation of this section, the site is subject to external inspection by the Village Engineer or other qualified inspector. The Inspector shall have the authority to enter the property for such external inspection and require compliance in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Planning and Zoning Code and Chapter 1316.
(Ord. 4115. Passed 2-15-23.)