(A) Standards for tree and vegetation protection. The following parts of this subchapter shall provide, and may be cited as, the town tree and vegetation protection provisions.
(B) General intent applicable for protection of all trees and vegetative growth. It is the intent of the town to provide for the general promotion of the health, safety, welfare and well-being of the community by establishing rules and regulations governing the protection and removal of trees, shrubs, vegetation, mangroves, beach dune cover and environmentally sensitive lands within the limits of the town.
(C) General purposes for all tree and vegetative protection. The purposes of this subchapter include the following:
(1) To encourage the proliferation of trees and vegetation within the town as well as their replacement, in recognition of their importance and their meaningful contribution to a healthy, beautiful and safer community attributable to their carbon dioxide absorption, oxygen production, dust filtration, wind and noise reduction, soil erosion prevention, beach erosion protection, wildlife habitat, surface drainage improvement, beautification and aesthetic enhancement of improved and vacant lands;
(2) To encourage beneficial land and forest management practices by minimizing the unnecessary removal of valuable existing vegetation in advance of approved land development;
(3) To prevent such destructive land development practices as speculative grubbing and clearcutting of lots when no bona fide site development plan or no comparable vegetation management plan has been prepared for a site; and
(4) To implement the Town Comprehensive Land Use Plan, including the conservation and preservation elements thereof, which recognize the significance and importance of valuable existing vegetation, trees, forest ecosystems, wildlife habitat and other natural resources located within the town.
(Ord. 1-90, passed 1-31-1991)