A. Tree Survey: A tree survey shall be submitted to the village administrator for review and approval, by anyone requesting a tree removal permit related to any regulated activity. The tree survey shall indicate the location, size and species (both scientific and common name), relative health, of all trees located on the parcel with a dbh of four inches (4") or greater. The tree location and size information which is part of a tree survey shall be based upon a plat of survey prepared by a land surveyor. The balance of the information provided by any tree survey and any tree preservation plan and any amendment(s) thereto, including, but not limited to, the species and condition of each tree shown on the tree survey, shall be prepared by a registered landscape architect as defined by 225 Illinois Compiled Statutes 315/1 et seq., or by an arborist certified by the International Society of Arborculture, the American Horticulture Society, and/or the American Society of Consulting Arborists.
B. Integration Of Existing Trees Into Site And Landscape Plans: Subject to the determination of the village administrator, or his or her or its designee, a reasonable effort shall be made to retain existing protected private trees shown on the tree survey through the integration of those trees into the site and landscaping plan for a proposed site or development. Where a reasonable integration of protected private trees into the site or development plan is not possible, and any protected private trees are, therefore, approved for removal, the applicant shall be required to mitigate the removal of all such protected private trees based upon the replacement tree exchange rate set forth in section 8-6-5 of this chapter, and further provided that removal of protected private trees designated for preservation shall be allowed only pursuant to the provisions of section 8-6-5 of this chapter. In the event that a site development plan or landscaping plan is not required by a landowner who desires to remove protected private trees, a tree survey and tree preservation plan in compliance with this chapter shall still be required.
C. Tree Preservation Plan: A tree preservation plan indicating the location and species of those protected private trees to be preserved and the methods which are to be used to preserve such trees shall be submitted to the village administrator. This tree preservation plan shall specify the following:
1. Preservation Techniques:
a. Grading And Construction Equipment: All grading and construction equipment shall be forbidden from encroaching upon the protected private tree's drip line.
b. Material Detrimental To Trees: Crushed limestone and other materials detrimental to protected private trees shall not be dumped within the drip line of any tree nor at any higher location where drainage toward the protected private tree could conceivably affect the health of the protected private tree.
c. Installation Of Snow Fencing: Snow fencing shall be installed before construction at the periphery of the protected private tree's drip line. In areas where a protected private tree is adjacent to a construction zone (i.e., any area of "regulated activity" as defined in section 8-6-2 of this chapter) and fencing the drip line is not possible, two inch by six inch (2" x 6") by eight foot (8') long boards banded or wired around each trunk shall be provided as protection to adequately prevent scarring.
d. During Construction: If protected private trees have their roots exposed, the roots shall be pruned. If exposed roots are greater than two inches (2") in diameter, the tree crown is to be pruned to compensate for the root loss. Also the protected private tree shall be watered and fertilized.
2. Preservation Methodology: The methods which are to be used to preserve those protected private trees shall be clearly specified on the tree preservation plan. These shall, at a minimum, include the preservation techniques listed above, although alternative methods may be considered. If, in the opinion of the village administrator or his or her or its designee, the necessary precautions as specified in the tree preservation plan for the development were not undertaken before or during construction to ensure the preservation of those protected private trees, any building or site development permit for the property in question shall not be issued, or, if previously issued, may be suspended or revoked until such time as these precautions have been complied with.
3. Exempt Trees: Notwithstanding anything contained in this chapter to the contrary, the following species of trees shall not be required to be preserved or protected as part of any tree preservation plan:
Buckthorn, common (Rhaminus cathartica)
Buckthorn, glossy (Rhaminus frangula)
Maple, box elder (Acer negundo)
Poplar, cottonwood (Populus deltoides)
Poplar, Lombardy (Populus nigra 'Italica')
Poplar, white or silver (Populus alba)
Willow (any of the species)
The written approval of the village administrator, or his or her designee, as specified in section 8-6-3 of this chapter, shall be required for the removal of any of the species of trees specified in this subsection C3 in order to confirm that said tree is one of the exempt species as listed above or is otherwise an exempt tree. After such a written determination has been made by the village administrator, or his or her designee, such trees shall, therefore, be considered "exempt trees" for the purposes of this chapter. Until a tree has been determined by the village administrator, or his or her designee, to be an "exempt tree", it shall be presumed to be a protected private tree.
4. Applicable Trees: The tree preservation plan shall be required to and shall specify such reasonable and necessary precautions to preserve and protect all protected private trees.
5. Landscape Architect Or Arborist Review: The village, through the village administrator, shall have the right, but not the obligation, to retain, at the applicant's expense, a landscape architect or certified arborist who shall, in that event, review the applicant's proposed tree preservation plan and provide recommendations to the village administrator pursuant to this chapter.
6. Replacement Trees: Unless otherwise provided as part of a landscaping plan, the tree preservation plan shall also show the proposed location of all required replacement trees.
7. Exception: Notwithstanding the other provisions of this chapter to the contrary, no tree survey or tree preservation plan shall be required for a tree removal permit if the village administrator, or his or her designee, determines that such tree survey and tree preservation plan for such a tree removal permit can both be documented by other means, such as photographs and/or a written report prepared by a qualified arborist. (Ord. 2007-845, 3-13-2007)