As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth in this section:
(a) Tree shall mean any living plant with needles or scale-type leaves that has a well defined stem or stems with a diameter of at least two (2) inches at 4½ feet from the surface from the ground or any living self-supporting woody plant that has a well defined stem or stems which has been intentionally cultivated and established.
(b) Public trees shall include all trees now or hereafter growing on any street, park or any other public site.
(c) Streets, alleys, highways shall mean the entire width of every public right-of-way when any part thereof is open to the use of the public, as a matter of right, for purposes of vehicular and pedestrian traffic.
(d) Property line shall mean the legal boundary line between private and Village owned land.
(e) Tree lawn shall mean that part of the public right-of-way not covered by a sidewalk or other paving, lying between the property line and that portion of the street usually used for vehicular traffic.
(f) Property owner shall mean that person owning such property as shown by the County Auditor’s Plat of Huron County, State of Ohio.
(g) Large trees are designated as those attaining a height of forty (40) feet or more.
(h) Medium trees as designated as those attaining a height of twenty (20) to forty (40) feet.
(i) Small trees are designated as those under twenty (20) feet.
(j) Remove or removal shall mean the removal of all above and below ground parts, including the stump and roots.
(k) Diameter at breast height, (D.B.H.) shall mean a tree’s diameter in inches measured at 4½ feet from the surface of the ground. On trees having multiple stems, the largest diameter stem will be measured.
(l) Parks shall include any Village public spaces designated for recreation and/or conservation.
(m) Public site shall include any other ground owned by the Village.
(n) Dripline shall mean the approximate circular, vertical extension to the ground of the outer most branches and/or leaves of the tree as an identification of the spread of the root system.
(o) Hazard zone of a tree is the area inside a circle whose radius is equal to the height of the tree, the center being the trunk.
(p) Critical Root Zone (CRZ) is the circular area surrounding a tree in which the tree’s roots critical to its survival usually will be found and which should be protected. The radius of the CRZ is determined by multiplying the DBH 1.5 ft. (Example, 10" DBH x 1.5' = 15' CRZ)
(Ord. 2006-04. Passed 3-14-06.)