(A) Woodland Alteration Permit: Except as provided for herein, no person or corporation shall destroy or significantly alter any forest or woodland through tree damage or removal, clearing, grading, tilling, burning, application of chemicals, alteration of drainage pattern, or any other means unless they possess a valid woodland alteration permit. No person or corporation shall be granted a permit for subdivision and/or grading on wooded or forested land unless they possess a valid woodland alteration permit.
Issuance of a woodland alteration permit is contingent upon the following requirements:
1. A woodland alteration plan for the subject property including any access easements must be approved by the approving body.
2. All other requirements pursuant to the California environmental quality act (CEQA), and other applicable local, state and federal laws and regulations must be fulfilled.
3. The city council, if it desires, may establish a fee for the permit. If a fee is to be established, it will be set by resolution. (Ord. 1509, 5-24-1994)
4. All applications shall be submitted to the development services department on a form provided by that department. The form will contain a list of all the information to be submitted with the application. (Ord. 1509, 5-24-1994; amd. Ord. 1654, 6-25-2013)
(B) Woodland Alteration Plan: The purpose of the woodland alteration plan (WAP) is to establish specific methods to conserve existing and potential woodland resources and to replace impacted woodland resources during construction or development. The WAP shall be prepared by a qualified tree specialist and the charges of preparing the WAP shall be borne by the applicant.
The WAP shall provide that a project meets the minimum canopy retention standards of the provision through any, or a combination, of the following methods or other methods:
1. Minimizing the extent of the development and locating it to avoid impacts on existing woodlands.
2. Clustering development on a portion of the project area to retain continuous stands of trees in the nondeveloped portion.
3. Compliance with the tree preservation guidelines adopted by resolution of the city council may be required.
4. If deemed necessary, a fire management plan shall be submitted concurrently with a woodland alteration permit.
5. If the removal of trees exceeds the minimum canopy retention standard then the woodland alteration permit shall demonstrate how the replacement trees will be maintained, and by whom, to meet the minimum canopy retention standard.
6. If the canopy is removed beyond the minimum canopy retention standard, the decision making body may, at its discretion, require the replacement of trees to a level greater than the minimum stated herein, if it is deemed to further enhance the project or to reduce environmental impacts.
7. Replanting with native species to meet the minimum canopy retention standards. Alternative species may be used to exceed minimum canopy retention standards. The future canopy shall be determined by species, size and estimated canopy after fifteen (15) years of growth. (Ord. 1509, 5-24-1994)