While allowing for reasonable improvement of land within the village, it is the stated public policy of the village to maintain existing trees and add to the tree population within the village, where possible. The preservation of existing trees in the village and the planting of additional trees are intended to accomplish, where possible, the following objectives:
A. To preserve trees as an important public resource enhancing the quality of life and the general welfare of the village and enhancing its unique character and physical, historical, and aesthetic environment;
B. To preserve the essential character of those areas throughout the community which are heavily wooded and in a more natural state;
C. To enhance and preserve the air quality of the village through the filtering effect of trees on air pollutants;
D. To reduce noise within the village through the baffle and barrier effect of trees on the spread of noise;
E. To reduce topsoil erosion through the soil retention effect of tree roots;
F. To reduce energy consumption through the windbreak and shade effects of trees when they are properly placed on the lot;
G. To preserve and enhance nesting areas for birds and other wildlife which in turn assist in the control of insects;
H. To reduce stormwater runoff and the costs associated therewith and replenish groundwater supplies; and
I. To protect and increase property values. (Ord. 2009-18, 11-9-2009)
CALIPER: The diameter of a tree as measured at a point six inches (6") above the existing grade at the base of a tree. This point of measurement is used for nursery stock and replacement trees.
CRITICAL ROOT ZONE: The area inscribed by an imaginary circular line on the ground beneath a tree having as its center point the center of the trunk of the tree and a radius equal to one foot (1') for every inch of dbh.
DAMAGE: The taking of any direct or indirect action that causes or, by being contrary to national standards, is likely to cause, the death of a tree or a significant loss of a tree's structural integrity. Examples of actions damaging to a tree include: destruction, poisoning, carving, mutilating, girdling, severing the main trunk, leader, or large branches or roots, removing any portion of the bark from the main trunk, leader, or large branches, touching with live wires, crushing or exposing the roots, digging or drilling any hole or trench within the critical root zone, filling with soil or other materials within the critical root zone, compacting a substantial portion of the soil in the critical root zone, or moving a tree to another location. Without limitation of the foregoing, "damage" does not include the pruning of trees in accordance with national standards.
DIAMETER AT BREAST HEIGHT (dbh): The diameter of the trunk of a tree measured in inches, at a point four and one-half feet (41/2') above the existing grade at the base of the tree. This point of measurement is used for measuring mature and established trees. The dbh of a multi-trunk tree shall be the aggregate diameter (meaning the sum of dbh of each trunk) of such tree.
FEE IN LIEU OF REPLACEMENT: The fee required to be paid when an owner is excused from planting replacement trees at the rate otherwise applicable for removed protected trees (i.e., when insufficient space is available for planting of the required trees). The fee in lieu of replacement shall be as set forth from time to time in the annual fee schedule.
NATIONAL STANDARDS: Those practices with respect to the proper care and maintenance of trees that follow the guidelines published by the International Society of Arboriculture entitled "Standard Practices For Tree, Shrub, And Other Woody Plant Maintenance" (ANSI A300), as amended from time to time, or similar standards and guidelines regularly applied by trained arborists with respect to the proper care and maintenance of trees.
PROTECTED TREE: Any tree located on a lot in the village that has a dbh of four inches (4") or greater, but protected trees shall not include any invasive or nuisance tree, as from time to time specified by the village arborist, such as: common buckthorn, black locust, Siberian elm, Chinese elm, slippery elm and box elder.
REMOVE OR REMOVAL: The physical detachment or elimination of a tree, or the effective detachment or elimination of a tree, through damage, cutting of major vegetation to the ground, complete extraction or killing by spraying, girdling, root cutting, or otherwise. Without limitation of the foregoing, "remove" or "removal" does not include the pruning of trees in accordance with national standards.
TREE: A self-supporting, woody plant, together with its root system, having a well defined stem or trunk or a multi-stemmed trunk system, a more or less well defined crown, and a mature height of at least eight feet (8'). "Tree" shall not include trees in containers or nursery stock trees maintained for resale.
TREE EMERGENCY: The occurrence of any event as a result of which a tree poses a risk of imminent danger or hazard to persons or property and ought to be cut or removed immediately or with as little delay as possible (i.e., a tree has fallen on a building or a power line or blocks safe passage of streets or become uprooted or unstable as a result of severe weather, ice, floods or high winds).
TREE PROTECTION PLAN: The written plan submitted by an owner to the village pursuant to this chapter under which the owner agrees to take specific measures to preserve existing trees from damage that may otherwise occur due to construction activities.
TREE REMOVAL PERMIT: The written permit issued by the village to authorize the removal of a protected tree pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.
TREE REPLACEMENT PLAN: The written plan submitted by an owner to the village pursuant to this chapter under which the owner becomes obligated to replace protected trees for which removal is sought.
TREE SURVEY: A graphic display indicating location, size, species (both scientific and common names) and condition of all trees on a parcel with a dbh of four inches (4") or greater as well as all trees that are located within fifteen feet (15') of the lot line on adjacent parcels that fall within preceding size classification. All trees illustrated on the tree survey shall be numbered on the plan and tagged with the corresponding number on the site.
VILLAGE ARBORIST: An individual consulting for the village who is trained in the art and science of planting, caring for and maintaining individual trees, usually having certification from the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA), the National Arborist Association (NAA) or the American Society of Consulting Arborists (ASCA) or comparable training.
VILLAGE PARKWAY PLAN: The plan developed by the village, as amended from time to time, for use in identifying tree species suitable for parkway planting. (Ord. 2009-18, 11-9-2009)
Loading...