All developments should be designed to preserve healthy trees and woodlands, especially trees providing natural buffering, historic or special interest trees, and trees of eight inches or greater in diameter, where possible. Buildings and parking areas should be located to fit into the existing topography and preserve the natural amenities of the site.
(a) The following regulations shall pertain to all development except for new individual single family building sites:
(1) A Tree Preservation Plan prepared by a landscape architect or a tree forester shall be prepared and submitted as part of the development plan. The Tree Preservation Plan shall be drawn at a scale not less than 1" - 50' identifying and locating all individual trees or groups of trees of eight inches D.B.H. or greater. The Tree Preservation Plan shall identify with specificity all trees to be preserved, all trees of eight inches or larger D.B.H. to be removed, the method of protection of trees to be preserved and any trees to be replaced, transplanted, or added to the site. The plan shall also include a table listing the area of the site, number of total trees (two inches or greater D.B.H.), and the total caliper of trees to be on the site excluding trees required to meet the buffering requirements of the Zoning Code.
(2) Existing trees of eight inches D.B.H. or greater located within a required landscape perimeter area shall be preserved unless exempted or approved by the Director for removal and replacement.
(3) Existing historic or special interest trees located within a parking area or interior landscape area shall be preserved within a landscaped island unless otherwise approved by the Commission and the Director for removal and replacement. Historic or special interest trees shall be located in a landscaped island adequate to protect the tree and root system. Existing ground elevation shall be maintained within 1 1/2 foot radius of the tree for every one inch of D.B.H.
(4) Existing trees within the structure area and driveways may be removed but replacement trees shall be planted in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
(5) The Director shall determine the number, type, and location of replacement trees for any trees not preserved in subsections (a)(2), (a)(3), and (a)(4) hereof. Any replacement tree shall be an approved tree of one and one-half inches or greater caliper and at least five feet in height.
(6) Additional trees may be preserved on the site above and beyond that required above. Such trees may be used for credit applied to trees which were to be preserved but were removed by permission of the Director. These trees may also be applied to the minimum number and caliper of trees required under Section 966.18. In order for existing trees to be applied as credit, they must be four inches or greater in D.B.H.
(b) The following regulations shall pertain to construction on new individual single family building sites:
(1) Existing trees outside of the building area, driveways, street rights of way, drainageways, and utility easements shall be preserved.
(2) Storm and sanitary sewers shall be located and elevations set in order to require a minimum of regrading and tree removal.
(3) House elevations and street elevations shall be designed to minimize the change in existing natural grade of yards.
(4) Tree wells, aeration systems, retaining walls, and other methods shall be considered where practicable to preserve existing tree root systems in perimeter landscape areas.
(5) Existing trees to be preserved shall be marked and protected during all phases of construction.
(6) Preliminary subdivision plans or the development plan shall indicate areas which have existing trees or groupings of trees with a D.B.H. of eight inches or greater. Development plans and individual building plot plans shall indicate trees or areas of trees the developer intends to preserve.
(c) The following tree protection methods shall be implemented for any trees which are required on site:
(1) All trees or groups of trees to be preserved shall be marked with a blue colored ribbon or paint stripe as directed by the Director prior to any clearing.
(2) Prior to any construction or grading, protective measures as approved by the Director shall be placed around the trees to be preserved.
(3) Surface grade shall not be changed more than three inches within the dripline without the installation of an aeration system, wells or retaining walls.
(4) No wires, boards, nails, signs, fences or other attachment shall be made to a tree to be preserved.
(Ord. 145-1994. Passed 11-7-94.)