(A) Definition.
(1) Woodlands, young. An area or stand of trees whose total combined canopy covers an area of one-half acre or more and at least 50% of which is composed of canopies of trees having a diameter at breast height (DBH) of at least three inches. However, no trees grown for commercial purposes shall be considered a young woodland.
(2) Woodlands, mature. An area or stand of trees whose total combined canopy covers an area of one acre or more and at least 50% of which is composed of canopies of trees having a diameter at breast height (DBH) of at least ten inches; or any grove consisting of eight or more individual trees having a DBH of at least 12 inches whose combined canopies cover at least 50% of the area encompassed by the grove. However, no trees grown for commercial purposes should be considered a mature woodland.
(3) Woodlands include all tree species listed as large, deciduous trees and evergreen trees as listed in Appendix B.
(B) Purpose. Woodlands provide a wide variety of environmental functions. These include atmospheric benefits such as removing air-borne pollutants, carbon dioxide uptake, oxygen production, and evapotranspiration returns. Water quality benefits include substantial nutrient uptake rates (particularly for nitrogen and phosphorus) and surface runoff reduction in terms of both volumes and velocities. Woodlands provide unique wildlife habitats and food sources. Woodlands are excellent soil stabilizers, greatly reducing runoff-related soil erosion. Woodlands also serve to reduce wind velocities, which further reduces soil erosion. Finally, under proper management techniques, woodlands serve as regenerative fuel sources.
(C) Determination of presence.
(1) The determination of woodland and forest boundaries shall be determined by using the following sources and/ or methods in the order indicated below. If the first source is considered inaccurate or inappropriate by the Zoning Administrator the succeeding source shall be used:
(a) A field survey of trees compiled at the petitioner's expense by a registered land surveyor and identified by a landscape architect, forester, arborist, or botanist with a professional degree in one of those fields of endeavor.
(b) The most recent 1" = 400' aerial photographs prepared by the city.
(2) Each woodland and forest area shall include the tree trunk and the area located within the drip line or tree canopy. The area of woodlands and forests (mature and young), in square feet or acres, shall be measured and graphically delineated on the Natural Resource Protection Plan. Such woodland and forest area drawing shall indicate all woodland and forest areas of the property meeting the minimum size criteria established by the definitions of
WOODLANDS (MATURE AND YOUNG) in this section. In cases where the drip line or canopy areas overlap, the areas of overlap shall only be counted once. In cases where drip line or canopy areas overlap property lines, the property line(s) are to be used as the boundary for the woodland or forest area, with only that portion of the drip line area located on the subject property counted toward the woodland or forest area. The location, size, and summary of species types of all healthy trees having a diameter at breast height (DBH) of ten inches or greater that are located in woodland and forest areas within 25 feet of any proposed improvement and/or in woodland and forest areas to be demolished due to the placement of improvements or grading are to be graphically shown on the Natural Resource Protection Plan or submitted
as a separate drawing. For the remaining undisturbed areas of the site plan, subdivision plat, or condominium only the outline of woodland and forest areas indicating whether they are mature or young woodlands is required. The Natural Resource Protection Plan shall include an estimate of the percentage of all healthy trees within each woodland or forest area that have a DBH of three inches or greater and ten inches or greater.
(D) Protection standards. Woodland areas shall be retained to the extent shown on Table 154.503.1. Protected portions of woodlands shall remain in an undisturbed state except for the land uses permitted per the requirements of § 154.404.
(E) Mitigation. Woodlands and forest areas may be mitigated under either of the following two alternative requirements applicable to the mitigation of woodland and forest areas, except that the Zoning Administrator may approve different sizes and types of plantings in mitigation areas where site conditions or context warrant:
(1) Alternative 1:
(a) Mitigation shall include the planting of one and one-quarter acres of new woodland/forest for every one acre of disturbed woodland/forest for which mitigation is required.
(b) Mitigation shall include the replacement of woodlands/forests disturbed. Such mitigation shall consist of the planting of new woodland/forest areas, as specified above, using the following numbers of plants per acre of mitigated area:
1. Fifteen canopy trees, minimum three and one-half-inch caliper*.
2. Twelve canopy trees, minimum two-inch caliper.
3. Two hundred fifty canopy trees, minimum four-foot high whips.
4. Fifty understory trees, minimum five-foot high whips
5. Twenty-five shrubs, minimum 12 inches high
*Note: Each three and one-half-inch caliper canopy tree may be substituted with two one and one-half-inch caliper canopy trees.
(c) All mitigation shall be in addition to landscaping required under § 154.605.
(2) Alternative 2:
(a) Mitigation shall include the planting of one and one-half acres of new woodland/forest for every one acre of disturbed woodland/forest for which mitigation is required.
(b) Mitigation shall include the replacement of woodlands/forests disturbed. Such mitigation shall consist of the planting of new woodland/forest areas, as specified above, using the following number of plants per acre of mitigated area:
1. Twelve canopy trees, minimum three and one-half-inch caliper*.
2. Ten canopy trees, minimum two-inch caliper.
3. Two hundred canopy trees, minimum four-foot high whips.
4. Forty understory trees, minimum five-foot high whips.
5. Twenty shrubs, minimum 12 inches high.
*Note: Each three and one-half-inch caliper canopy tree may be substituted with two one and one-half-inch caliper canopy trees.
(c) All mitigation shall be in addition to landscaping required under § 154.605.
(3) The species of plants to be used in the mitigation of woodlands/forests shall be similar to those destroyed and a minimum mix of six species are to be planted. Acceptable species for woodland and forest mitigation are as indicated in Table 154.507.1. The species of trees to be used shall be selected by a qualified professional based on, among other considerations, topography and soil type. No more than 80% of the total number of trees planted for mitigation purposes, however, shall be of any single species.
(4) The land upon which the mitigation is to take place shall be protected with a deed restriction and conservation easement as a permanent natural resource features conservation easement.
(5) No tree cutting or removal, after the adoption of this code, shall reduce the woodland/forest natural resource features protection requirements of this code.
SPECIES COMMON NAME | SPECIES SCIENTIFIC NAME |
SPECIES COMMON NAME | SPECIES SCIENTIFIC NAME |
Sugar Maple | Acer saccharum |
Bitternut Hickory | Carya cordiformis |
Hackberry (Sugarberry) | Celtis occidentalis |
Butternut | Juglans cinera |
Black Walnut | Juglans nigra |
Eastern Hophornbeam | Ostrya virginiana |
Black Cherry | Prunus serotina |
White Oak | Quercus alba |
Red Oak | Quercus borealis |
American Basswood | Tilia Americana |
American Elm | Ulmus Americana |
Slippery Elm | Ulmus rubra |
(Ord. O-05-04, passed 4-11-05)