(a) All new developments and construction shall preserve, replace, or plant trees on the site in conformance to the following schedule:
Schedule of the Minimum Number and Caliper of Trees
Use and Zoning Types | Minimum Number of Trees | Total Minimum Caliper of Trees (in.) |
Residential Districts | ||
Individual lot: | 4 | 6 |
Per acre: | 10 | 20 |
P.U.D. Overlay per acre: | 20 | 40 |
Commercial districts per acre: | 20 | 40 |
Industrial districts per acre: | 20 | 40 |
Other districts per acre: | 20 | 15 |
If evergreen trees are utilized to meet the minimum number and caliper of trees, the first five feet of the height of the evergreen shall be computed as equalling one and one-half inches of caliper. Each additional foot of height shall be computed as an additional one-half inch of caliper.
(b) Developments shall meet or exceed the minimum of both the number and the caliper or D.B.H. of trees on the site after construction.
(c) Trees which are required to be planted outside the paved parking area adjacent to streets, highways or access roads, and any trees required to fulfill the buffering standards of the Zoning Code may be utilized toward the fulfillment of no more than fifty percent (50%) of the requirements of this section. Trees located on neighboring properties which abut the common lot line may not be utilized toward the fulfillment of any of the requirements of this section.
(e) Sparsely wooded or barren sites shall be required to meet or exceed the above minimum standards through planting of new trees. New trees planted on the site to meet the minimum tree standard shall be a minimum of one and one-half inches in caliper and five feet in height.
(f) Required trees in all districts shall be in place as per the approved plan prior to the issuance of an occupancy permit. If the weather season makes planting impractical, a performance bond or a certified letter of credit from a banking institution covering the full cost of tree stock and installation shall be posted, with the City, or, at the discretion of the Director, a letter may be obtained from the construction lender stating the funds will be held in escrow until the tree installation is complete and providing for release of such funds to the City should the developer fail to install the required trees within six months thereafter. All trees shall be installed within six months. Failure to do so shall result in forfeiture to the City of the bond, letter of credit, or escrowed funds which will be used for the installation of the required trees. Such deposit shall only be returned upon satisfactory completion of grading and installation of the required trees.
(g) All trees required in this chapter shall be maintained in a healthy and living condition. Any required tree that dies or is removed for any reason shall be replaced before the end of the next planting season with a new tree or trees to conform to the minimum schedule in subsection (a) hereof.
(h) All trees and vegetation planted shall be appropriate for northwest Ohio or similar climates, in good condition, and properly installed using accepted planting procedures. New trees shall be staked, watered, and mulched.
(i) New trees planted to meet the minimum tree standards and buffering requirements shall be at least one and one-half inches in caliper and at least five feet in height.
(Ord. 16-1997. Passed 1-21-97.)