For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ARBORIST. The professionally trained men and women who make a career of caring for the urban forest. Some are self-employed, some work for tree care companies and others work for municipalities.
BOULEVARD. The land between the normal location of the street curbing and sidewalk; also refers to the center or median of divided streets. Where there is no curb and gutter, the area from the edge of the blacktop to the edge of the right-of-way shall be deemed to be BOULEVARD for the purpose of this chapter. These areas and the plants within them are village-owned and thus are controlled by the village.
DEVELOPER. Any person or persons engaged in the act of the division of a lot, parcel or tract of land, by the owner thereof, or the owner’s agent, for the purpose of transfer of ownership or building development that creates five or more lots, parcels or building sites within a five-year period.
DIAMETER AT BREAST HEIGHT (DBH). The stem diameter measured at a point of four and one-half feet above the ground.
FORESTER. Person designated by the Village Board as authorized to carry out provisions of this chapter.
MAJOR ALTERATIONS. Trimming a tree where its natural form is compromised.
PERMIT FOR PLANTING, MAINTENANCE AND REMOVAL OF TREES AND SHRUBS IN PUBLIC AREAS. Written permission from the Village Forester to perform maintenance and protection of public trees or shrubs. Any PERMIT may include specifications which shall be complied with, and any special provisions applicable to the purpose of the PERMIT.
PERSON. Person, firm, association or corporation, LLC or LLP.
PRUNING. By the Village Forester, shall be accomplished according to current technical specifications of the International Society of Arboriculture, Tree Pruning Guidelines and the American National Standard Institute (ANSI) A300 Standard Practices for Pruning.
PUBLIC AREAS. Includes all public parks, rights-of-way and other lands owned, controlled or leased by the village.
PUBLIC NUISANCE. Any tree or shrub or part thereof which, by reason of its condition, interferes with the use of any public area; is infected with a plant disease; is infested with injurious insects or pests; is damaging to public improvements; or endangers the life, health, safety and/or welfare of persons or property (nuisances, see Chapter 94).
PUBLIC TREES AND SHRUBS. All trees and shrubs located or to be planted in or upon public areas within the village such as parks, boulevards, medians or alleys.
SHRUBS. Any woody vegetation or a woody plant having multiple stems and bearing foliage from the ground up.
TOPPING. The practice of cutting limbs to stubs larger than three inches in diameter within the tree’s crown regardless of branch juncture.
TRAFFIC CONTROL SIGNS. Any sign or device used to direct or aid in the flow of traffic on any right-of-way or public area.
TREE. Any woody plant, normally having one stem or trunk bearing its foliage or crown well above ground level to heights of 12 feet or more.
URBAN FOREST. The sum of all trees within corporate limits subjected to alterations in the soil and other stresses resulting from activities of urban life.
VISION TRIANGLE. A triangle formed by the two intersection rights-of-way and a third line connecting the rights-of-way lines at a distance of 25 feet in each direction from the point of rights-of-way line intersection. This triangular area of land shall provide unobstructed view to vehicular traffic (typically a clear line of sight between three and eight feet from ground level). The Village Forester may designate the pruning necessary to maintain this view and have property owners perform the necessary work within 20 calendar days of being notified by the Village Forester.
(Prior Code, § 14.01(8)(2)) (Ord. passed 3-11-2009)