935.02 DESIGNATION OF TREE AUTHORITY.

   The Environmental Commission is hereby designated as the City of Oxford Tree Authority.
(Ord. 2385. Passed 3-7-95.)

935.03 DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITY.

   It shall be the responsibility of the Tree Authority to develop and/or update annually a written plan for the care, preservation, pruning, planting, spacing and removal of public and street trees. Such plan will be presented annually to Council and upon their acceptance and approval, shall constitute the official comprehensive City tree plan. Implementation of the tree plan shall be the responsibility of the City Service Director or designee. Requests to vary from the plan shall be presented to the City Service Director for approval. Denial by the Service Director may be appealed to the Tree Authority.
(Ord. 2385. Passed 3-7-95.)

935.04 OPERATION.

   The City Service Director shall be responsible for implementation of the rules and regulations set forth in this chapter.
(Ord. 2385. Passed 3-7-95.)

935.05 STREET TREE SPECIES TO BE PLANTED.

   The Tree Plan contains a list of the official Street Tree species for the City of Oxford. No species other than those included in this list may be planted as Street Trees without the written permission of the Service Director. The tree(s) to be planted as street trees shall have calipers of at least two (2) inches diameter at breast height (DBH), with an appropriate height of branching for the tree's species. The Tree Authority shall categorize street trees in three species size classes.

(Ord. 3189. Passed 11-20-12.)

935.06 SPACING.

   Subject to the restrictions in Section 935.07, the spacing of Street Trees will be in accordance with the three species size classes adopted by the Tree Authority, and no trees may be planted closer together than the following: Small trees, 30 feet; medium trees, 40 feet; and large trees, 50 feet; except in special plantings designed by a landscape architect and/or recommended by a licensed arborist/forester, and with the approval of the City Service Director. All newly planted street trees shall be planted equal distance between the sidewalk and the curb or the property line and the curb.

935.07 DISTANCE AND CLEARANCES.

   It is prohibited to plant a street tree less than:

   (a)   30 feet from the street corner measured from the point of the nearest intersecting curbs or curb lines;

   (b)   10 feet distance from fire hydrants;

   (c)   5 feet from alleys and driveways; and

   (d)   No street trees other than low growing species that do not attain a mature height greater than 20 feet shall be planted under or within 10 feet from overhead power lines, utility signals, street lights, utility wires, underground water and sewer pipes, and water meters.
(Ord. 2385. Passed 3-7-95.)

935.08 TREE MAINTENANCE.

   (a)   The City shall have the right to plant, prune, maintain and remove trees, plants and shrubs within the tree lawn/public right of way of all streets, alleys, avenues, lanes, squares and public grounds, as may be necessary to insure public safety or to preserve or enhance the symmetry and beauty of tree lawn/public right of way. Pruning shall be done in accordance with the standards set forth in the Pruning Standard for shade trees in the tree plan. Climbing spikes shall not be allowed except when the tree is to be removed.

   (b)   The City Service Director, under the advice of a licensed arborist, may remove or cause or order to be removed, any street tree or part thereof which is in a public hazard constituting an unsafe condition which by reason of its nature is injurious to persons, public and private property, sewers, electrical power lines, gas lines, water lines, or other public improvements, or is affected with any injurious fungus, insect or other pest. This section does not prohibit the planting or pruning of Street Trees by adjacent property owners providing that the selection and location of said trees is in accordance with Sections 935.05 through 935.07 and pruning is in accordance with the tree plan.
(Ord. 2385. Passed 3-7-95.)