(a) When required by this article, a tree replacement plan shall be submitted providing for the planting of new trees of species, caliper and at locations approved by the village forester and for a program of watering and maintenance to ensure that the new plantings will become established for the replacement of protected trees and/or public trees removed or damaged by the owner. If a tree replacement plan calls for the planting of six (6) or more replacement trees, no more than one third (1/3) of the replacement trees shall be of a single species to prevent a monoculture.
(b) Any owner required to make replacements for a protected tree shall make all such replacements with a new tree or saplings of not less than two inches (2") caliper or eight feet (8') in height when deciduous ornamental trees in clump form or evergreens are used (an 8 foot tree is considered equivalent to a 3 inch caliper tree). The total aggregate caliper of all such trees and/or saplings used as replacements based on good forestry practices as approved by the village forester shall equal or exceed the DBH of the protected tree(s) so removed.
(c) A cash tree replacement fee shall be submitted with the tree replacement plan as a guarantee that protected trees will be replaced pursuant to the plan. The total fee shall be the replacement cost per inch at breast height as established in the village fee ordinance times the replacement rate specified in section 21-33 of this article.
(d) Replacement of protected trees shall be made within twelve (12) months of the date of issuance of the tree removal permit. The village forester upon request may grant an extension of not more than twelve (12) months' time. Upon the planting of the mitigation trees and after the inspection and approval of the mitigation trees by the village forester, the amount of cash tree replacement fee guarantee equal to the number of inches planted will be refunded to the applicant. (Ord. 0-05-9, 3-21-2005; amd. Ord. 0-21-10, 3-15-2021)