(a) Tree Planting Procedures. All planting of trees shall conform to the Standard of Care.
(b) Quality of Trees.
(1) All trees shall conform to the Village's Standard of Care, specifically, the most current edition of ANSI Z60.1.
(2) All trees must be on the approved species list and be true to species, variety, and/or cultivar.
(3) All trees must have normal trunks, leaders, tops and branches typical of the species, variety, or cultivar, and exhibit evidence of proper nursery pruning practices.
(4) All trees must be certified free of insect pests and diseases by the Illinois Department of Agriculture, Division of Entomology.
(5) All trees must be free of mechanical injuries and not show evidence of recent or previous wounds on the trunk.
(6) All trees must be nursery grown and must have received proper fertilizing, watering, top and root pruning as is normally needed for that particular kind of tree. Plants must have been grown in nursery conditions for the past two years under soil and climate conditions similar to that of Richton Park, Illinois. All plants must be labeled on delivery.
(7) Unless a tree is to be transplanted by mechanized tree spade, all tree roots shall be containerized, or ball and burlap. Nylon twine shall not be used for balling. Minimum ball size must conform to the most current edition of ANSI Z60.1. Root balls shall be intact at the time of planting.
(8) Trees must have trunks at least two and one-half inches in diameter measured six inches above the ground, and a soil ball of at least twenty-four inches in diameter.
(9) Plant material shall be planted the day it is taken to the planting site, or it shall be watered and/or covered, and placed in a shady area to prevent drying out or freezing.
(10) Trees are best planted after turf establishment and shall be guaranteed for a period of one year following planting.
(c) Tree Removal.
(1) All crew members should be wearing the appropriate safety gear; hard hats, eye protection, approved boots, hearing protection and chainsaw chaps for groundwork. All work must comply with ANSI Z133 Arboricultural Operations - Safety Requirements;
(2) Crew lead must have equivalent training to the Chicago Region Tree Initiative Illinois Arborist Association Urban Forestry Basic Training Workshop.
(d) Stump Removals. Refer to the Standard of Care.
(e) Offense. A person commits an offense if the person:
(1) Plants any required replacement tree within an area such that the mature canopy of the tree will interfere with existing or proposed overhead utility lines;
(2) Plants a tree within an area such that the tree, when mature, can reasonably be expected to block or interfere with a designated sight triangle area (either vertically or horizontally), unless approved in writing in advance by the Administrative Official;
(3) Plants a tree within ten feet of an existing or proposed fire hydrant unless approved in writing by both the Fire Department and Public Works Department; or
(4) Alters any protected tree unless the person has been explicitly authorized by the Village to do so.
(Ord. 1787. Passed 6-27-22.)