As used within this ordinance, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth in this section.
ALTERNATIVE METHODS OF COMPLIANCE. Alternate tree planting plans, plant materials, planting methods or reforestation may be used where unreasonable or impracticable situations would result from application of the tree planting and preservation requirements.
APPEAL. A request to a higher authority as a result of a decision determined by the Administrator or governing body, elected or appointed.
CALIPER. Diameter measurement of tree-trunk taken at six inches above ground level for trees up to and including trees four inches in caliper. For larger trees, measurement of CALIPER shall be taken at 12 inches above ground level.
CANOPY. The uppermost spreading branchy layer of a tree.
CANOPY COVER. The area that falls within a tree’s drip line.
CANOPY TREE. A tree, either single or multi-stemmed (i.e., in clump form) that has a height of at least ten feet and is of a species which, at maturity, can be expected to reach a height in excess of 50 feet under normal growing conditions in the local climate.
CLEAR CUT. Felling and removal of all trees from an area. Typically, an indiscriminate removal of trees, except in the case of silviculture harvesting where tree removal is followed up with a forest replanting or regeneration effort to keep the land forested.
CLUSTER OF TREES. A group of trees gathered together in their natural state.
DBH (DIAMETER BREAST HEIGHT). The diameter of a tree four and one-half feet above the average ground level.
DECIDUOUS. Plants or trees that lose their leaves annually.
DEVELOPER. A person or company who engages in development activities as defined below.
DEVELOPMENT. The act, process or state of erecting buildings or structures or making improvements that require submittal of a non-residential site plan, a minor subdivision plan, or a major development plan as required in the City of Mount Holly Subdivision Ordinance.
DEVELOPMENT PERMITS. A permit issued by the Planning Director that authorizes the recipient to make use of property in accordance with the requirements of this ordinance.
DRIP LINE. An imaginary vertical line extending from the outermost portion of the tree canopy to the ground.
EVERGREEN. Plants or trees that retain their leaves throughout the year.
EXISTING TREE CANOPY. Tree canopy that existed for at least two years prior to development as evidence by the town or county aerial photography and/or satellite imagery.
EXOTIC/INVASIVE SPECIES. An alien species that becomes established in natural or semi-natural ecosystems or habitats and threatens native plants and when such species spread they threaten biological diversity. Invasive species include English Ivy-Hedera helix, Chinese Wisteria-Wisteria sinensis, Japanese Wisteria-Wisteria floribunda, Japanese Honeysuckle- Lonicera japonica, Kudzu-Pueraria Montana and non-native bamboo.
GRADING or LAND DISTURBING. Any use of land by any person that results in a change of the natural cover or topography and that may cause or contribute to sedimentation or soil compaction.
HERITAGE TREE. Any tree that is listed in the North Carolina Big Trees List, the American Forest Association’s Champion Tree list or any tree that would measure 80% of the points of a tree on the North Carolina Big Trees List.
LAND CLEARING. The large scale indiscriminant removal of trees, shrubs, and undergrowth with the intention of preparing real property for non-agricultural development.
LARGE MATURING TREE. A tree whose height is greater than 50 feet at maturity and meets the specification of American Standards for Nursery Stock, published by the American Association of Nurserymen. See also CANOPY TREE.
MEDIUM MATURING TREE. A tree whose height is 25-50 feet at maturity and meets the specification of American Standards for Nursery Stock, published by the American Association of Nurserymen.
NATIVE SPECIES. Refers to a tree species whose geographic range during pre-colonial times included the Piedmont of North Carolina, and can be found at the North Carolina Division of Forest Resources.
PARK TREE. Trees, shrubs, bushes and all other woody vegetation in public parks having individual names, and all areas owned by the city, or to which the public has free access as a park.
PARKING LOT. Any area or tract or partial tract of land used for the storage or parking or vehicles.
PARKING LOT PLANTINGS. Planting areas within and adjacent to parking areas designed to shade and improve the attractiveness of large areas of pavement.
PLANTING STRIP. A ground surface located outside of any public right-of-way that is free of impervious cover and/or paved material and is reserved for landscaping purposes.
PLANTING YARD. A strip of land (of various widths) provided along the perimeter of a site for the installation of plant material in a combination of canopy trees and/or under story trees and shrubs.
PRUNING. The cutting off or removal of dead or living parts of a tree or shrub. See ANSI standards for recommended pruning practices.
SHRUB. A woody plant of relatively low height, having several stems arising from the base and lacking a single trunk; a bush.
SITE PLAN. A plan depicting the proposed development of a property, in terms of the location, scale and configuration of buildings and other features.
SMALL MATURING TREE. A tree whose height is less than 25 feet at maturity and meets the specifications of American Standards for Nursery Stock, published by the American Association of Nurserymen.
SPECIMEN TREE. A tree or group of trees considered to be an important community asset due to its unique or noteworthy characteristics or values. A tree may be considered a SPECIMEN TREE based on its size, age, rarity or special historical or ecological significance as determined by the city. Examples include large hardwoods (e.g., oaks, poplars, maples and the like) and softwoods (e.g., pine species) in good or better condition with a dbh of 24 inches or greater, and smaller understory trees (e.g., dogwoods, redbuds, sourwoods, persimmons and the like) in good or better condition with a dbh of ten inches or greater.
STAND. A group of trees of sufficiently uniform and/ or complimentary species composition, age and condition that they may be considered homogenous unit for management purposes.
STREET TREE. Trees, shrubs, bushes and all other woody vegetation on land lying between property lines on either side of all streets, avenues or ways within the city.
SUSTAINABLE. Capable of being continued with minimal negative long-term effects on the environment, the economy and on residents’ quality of life.
TOPPING. The inappropriate removal or cutting back of major portions of a tree by any pruning practice resulting in more than 25% of the foliage and limbs being removed. This includes any pruning that leads to disfigurement of the normal shape of the tree. TOPPING is also referred to as HEADING, STUBBING, ROUNDING or DEHORNING.
TREE BOARD. A five-member advisory board responsible for making decisions regarding trees in public spaces.
TREE INVENTORY. The gathering of accurate information on the health and diversity of the community forest on a development site or within Mount Holly.
TREE PROTECTION ZONE. The critical root and tree protection zone is defined as the critical area above and below ground with a radius equivalent to one foot outside of the drip line.
TREE SAVE AREA. An area measured in square feet containing existing healthy tree canopy in a single-family subdivision or an area containing existing or mitigated off site healthy tree canopy in a commercial development. The area may include up to five feet beyond the drip line of the tree.
(Ord. passed 5-13-1996)