(a) All plantings shall be subject to the final approval of the Service Safety Director's designee.
(b) All plantings shall be in a live, healthy condition.
(c) Specified varieties of any species shall be specimen-type trees or shrubs and shall be graded according to the applicable American National Standards Institute (ANSI) for Nursery Stock or better and shall be first class representatives of their normal species and varieties.
(d) The approved and prohibited species and cultivars for planting in or adjacent to the public way are listed in Section 909.07 hereof. In order to maintain consistency with horticultural practices, the list set forth in Section 909.07 may be reviewed by the Bucyrus Tree City USA Board and may be revised by a recommendation of the Bucyrus Tree City USA Board to Council.
(e) Distances and Clearances.
(1) Plantings within the public ways that impact traffic safety shall be coordinated with and approved by the Service Safety Director's Designee. The following criteria shall be used as guidelines with regard to plantings that impact traffic safety:
A. A minimum of thirty-five (35) feet from the nearest street corner measured from the point of the nearest intersecting curbs or curb lines.
B. A minimum of five (5) feet from driveways.
C. A minimum of twenty (10) feet from alleyways.
D. A minimum of one and one-half (1-1/2) feet from a curb or sidewalk for a small tree.
E. A minimum of two (2) feet from a curb or sidewalk for a medium tree.
F. A minimum of three (3) feet from a curb or sidewalk for a large tree.
(2) Plantings within the Utility Zone shall be installed using the following criteria:
A. Only species listed for use in Utility Zones shall be planted under utility lines or within ten (10) lateral feet of said lines.
B. A minimum of a ten (10) foot clearance from ground operated equipment.
C. A minimum of a ten (10) foot clearance shall be maintained from streetlight fixtures to any plantings or portion thereof, which obstructs the path of light.
D. A minimum of a ten (10) foot distance from fire hydrants.
(3) Trees within the public ways shall be maintained so that:
A. Branch clearance above sidewalks shall be eight (8) feet or greater.
B. Branch clearance above streets shall be fifteen (15) feet or greater.
(4) The Utilities are under no obligation to safeguard plantings made in the utility zone. However, compliance with these guidelines should minimize the effects of utility operations on subsequent additions to the urban forest.
(f) Except for plantings planted and maintained by the City or other approved public authority, only the plantings listed in Section 909.07, or any other plantings that may be hereafter approved or prohibited by the Tree Advisory Board and approved in writing by the Service Safety Director's designee, may be planted in the public ways.
(g) All stumps and remnants of street trees must be removed six (6) inches below the ground surface so that the top of the stump/remnant shall not project above the surface of the ground.
(h) Sidewalk street repairs that will potentially endanger street trees shall require prior consultation with the Service Safety Director's designee as to the best way to protect the tree roots where possible in the opinion of the Service Safety Director's designee.
(Ord. 5-2023. Passed 3-7-23.)