For the purpose of this chapter the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ARBORICULTURAL SPECIFICATION MANUAL. A manual produced by the International Society of Arboriculture addressing standards for preservation, planting, maintenance and removal of trees.
BORDER TREE. A tree growing partially on public property and private property or on abutting private properties.
CALIPER. A measurement used for nursery stock. The diameter measured at six inches above the ground line for trees up to four inches in diameter and measured at 12 inches above the ground line for trees greater than four inches in diameter.
CERTIFIED ARBORIST. An arborist certified by the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) trained in the science of caring for trees.
CITY ARBORIST. That city employee or his or her designee who oversees the city forestry management program.
COMMUNITY FOREST. The sum total of all trees existing in the city both on public and private property.
CONSTRUCTION. That activity which requires a building permit issued by the Building Department for a tear down or newly constructed residence.
CONSTRUCTION ENVELOPE. The defined area of the lot or development that contains all of the construction or site disturbance activities.
CONSTRUCTION SITE. That property which denotes the building of, demolition of, or addition to the principal structure (building); that property which denotes the building of, demolition of, addition to, or relocation of an auxiliary structure.
CRITICAL ROOT ZONE. The root area surrounding the tree as determined by an imaginary circular line on the ground having its center point the center of the trunk of the tree and a radius equal to one foot for every one inch of trunk diameter at DBH, but with a minimum radius of at least six feet.
DBH. Diameter Breast Height is the diameter of a tree at four and one-half feet (54 inches) above ground and is the recommended standard reference point for measuring mature trees.
DEMOLITION. The removal of at least the roof and two sides of a structure (building).
DISEASED/DAMAGED TREE. A tree harboring an identifiable disease or severe limb/trunk/root damage as attested to by a certified arborist.
DRIP LINE. The imaginary line on the ground directly beneath and determined by the maximum radius of the crown of the tree.
FORESTRY MANAGEMENT PROGRAM. The city management program that consists of this tree preservation chapter, its permit process and enforcement procedure.
HAZARDOUS TREE. A tree that exhibits at least one of the following: the tree is dead or dying showing no leaf presence or very little during the growing season; the tree has been heavily damaged beyond saving or structurally compromised; the tree has been diagnosed by a certified arborist as exhibiting an infection or disease that can not be arrested. The above may constitute a safety or health hazard to humans, property or other trees and removal is recommended.
HEALTHY TREE. A tree free from disease or severe damage that exhibits new growth yearly.
ISA. International Society of Arboriculture.
MATURE TREE. A tree with a DBH of eight inches or greater; a multi-stem tree with an aggregate DBH of 16 inches or greater.
PERMIT. The approval issued by the city to perform a certain task.
PRIVATE TREE. Any tree located on private property.
PROHIBITED TREE. A tree species prohibited from being planted due to infrastructure protection and shall include female Ginkgo, all Willow and all Cottonwood and any additional species determined by the city arborist from time to time.
PROTECTED TREES. A protected tree may be designated by size, species or location. Thus any mature tree, all significant tree species and all those trees located on public property are protected trees.
PUBLIC TREE. Any tree located on public property.
SIGNIFICANT TREE SPECIES. All species of Hickory, Oak and Walnut trees with an eight inch or greater DBH, or any tree designated as significant from time to time.
STREET TREES. Trees, shrubs, bushes and all other woody vegetation bordering public thoroughfares within the city.
STRUCTURE. Anything built, installed, erected or placed on, in or under the ground or attached to something on, in or under the ground, and defined as follows:
(1) PRINCIPAL STRUCTURE. The main building on a site, that which is used as a residence.
(2) AUXILIARY STRUCTURE. Those structures other than the principal structure but not limited to accessory buildings (detached garages and sheds), patios, decks, gazebos, pools, fences and others designated from time to time by the Building Commissioner.
TEAR DOWN. Common terminology for a complete demolition (which may or may not include the foundation removal).
TREE. A self-supporting woody plant having an anchoring root system, a main stem (trunk) or multi- branched trunk supporting a well defined crown of branches with leaves (canopy) commonly reaching 15 feet or more in height at maturity.
TREE BANK. An escrow account established based upon the replacement value of the trees on site and in the right-of-way per a certified arborist and retained by the city until the tree preservation/tree replacement plans are fulfilled.
TREE PRESERVATION PLAN. A site plan that provides all details required by the City Arborist that verifies how the existing protected trees will be preserved.
TREE REMOVAL PERMIT. The written permit issued by the city to authorize the removal of a tree pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.
TREE REPLACEMENT PLAN. Plans approved by the City Arborist that insures that trees removed during construction or otherwise are replaced appropriately.
TREE SURVEY. A document prepared by a certified arborist, unless specified otherwise in this chapter, consisting of text and graphics drawn to scale that depicts the existing protected trees on a site, those on adjacent property within 15 feet of the lot line, public trees in the right-of-way abutting the site, species, size at DBH, condition, estimated critical root zone, site location specified and any other information required by the City Arborist.
TREE TOPPING. A misunderstood practice to limit the height of trees by cutting back tree branches
especially at the crown's top causing a stubby appearance, limiting proper growth and promoting excessive shoots around the cut areas which will ultimately weaken the tree branches, cause an abnormal shape to the tree, and possible death of the tree.
(Ord. O-16-06, passed 7-18-06)