All development shall be designed to preserve healthy trees and woodlands, especially trees providing natural buffering and trees of eight inches D.B.H. or greater, where possible. Buildings and parking areas shall be located to fit into the existing topography and preserve the natural amenities of the site.
(a) Regulations pertaining to all Development except in the U-1 Single Family District:
(1) An Existing Conditions Topographic Survey shall be submitted to the Building Inspector for review and approval by the City Engineer.
(2) A Tree Protection Plan based on an approved Existing Conditions Topographic Survey shall be prepared and submitted to the Building Inspector. The Building Inspector shall submit the Tree Protection Plan to the Architectural Board of Review for its review and written recommendation. Upon receipt of the Architectural Board of Review's recommendations the Building Inspector shall submit the Tree Protection Plan with the Architectural Board of Review's written recommendation and the Building Inspector's written recommendation to the Planning Commission for its review.
(4) Existing trees of eight inches D.B.H. or greater shall be preserved unless removal is approved by the Planning Commission which shall determine the number, type and location of any replacement trees. Any replacement tree shall be an approved tree of two inches or greater caliper and at least five feet in height.
(b) Regulations Pertaining to the Development in a U-1 Single Family District:
(1) Existing trees outside of the building area, driveways, street rights of way. drainageways and utility easements shall be preserved, where possible.
(2) Storm and sanitary sewers shall be located and elevations set in order to require a minimum of regrading and tree removal.
(3) House elevations and street elevations shall be designed to minimize the change in existing natural grade of yards.
(4) Tree wells, aeration systems, retaining walls and other methods shall be utilized to preserve existing tree root systems in perimeter landscape areas.
(5) Existing trees to be preserved shall be marked and protected during all phases of construction.
(6) Preliminary subdivision plans or the development plan shall indicate areas which have existing trees or groupings of trees with a D.B.H. of eight inches or greater. Improvement plans and individual building plot plans shall indicate trees or areas of trees the developer intends to preserve.
(c) Tree Protection Methods to Be Implemented for Any Trees Which Are Required to Be Preserved:
(1) All trees or groups of trees to be preserved shall be marked with a blue colored ribbon or paint stripe prior to any clearing.
(2) Prior to any construction or grading, a protective barrier, fence, posts and/or signs shall be placed around the trees to be preserved.
(3) Protection barriers shall be located no closer than two-thirds of the distance from the tree trunk to the dripline.
(4) No building material, equipment, vehicles or chemicals shall be stored or placed in the protection area of the dripline.
(5) Surface grade shall not be changed more than six inches within the protected area without the installation of an aeration system, wells or retaining walls.
(6) No wires, boards, nails, signs, fences or other similar material shall be attached during development to a tree to be preserved.
(Ord. 2011-09. Passed 4-20-11.)