The following activities are exempt from the tree protection standards of this article:
(A) The removal of dead or naturally fallen or severely damaged trees or vegetation, or the removal, by an approved method, of trees or vegetation that are a threat to the public health, safety or welfare as determined by the City Arborist;
(B) The removal of diseased or insect-infected trees or vegetation that pose a risk to adjoining trees as determined by the City Arborist;
(C) The removal of trees necessary to establish a driveway at a location and width approved by the City Engineer in accordance with city regulations so as to allow access onto and within the property where no alternative means of access exists on the site;
(D) The selective and limited removal of trees necessary to obtain clear visibility at driveways, intersections or within required sight triangles;
(E) The removal of trees on tracts of two acres or less, with land within public rights-of-way being excluded from the area calculation;
(F) The removal of trees as part of forestry activities on property that is taxed on the basis of its present-use value as forestland under G.S. Chapter 105, Article 12 or conducted in accordance with a forestry management plan prepared or approved by a forester registered pursuant to G.S. Chapter 89B, except that, for such activities, a building permit or site plan or subdivision plan shall be denied or disapproved in accordance with the provisions of section 6-5-27(B);
(G) The removal of trees for the purpose of sale by commercial garden centers, greenhouses or nurseries;
(H) The removal of damaged or dead trees during or after emergencies or inclement weather such as wind storms, ice storms, fire or other disasters; and
(I) The removal of trees by or on behalf of a governmental entity or a utility when the removal is necessary for the performance of the functions and duties of the governmental entity or utility.
(Ord. 07-33, § 2, passed 3-8-2007)