A. No person shall cause or permit any removal of protected woodland on any parcel in the Village, unless the person has obtained a woodland removal permit from the Village. The purpose of this provision is to ensure that the removal does not violate the allowable reduction in protected woodland on such owner's land. Removal of protected woodland harms the survival and regeneration of native woodland in the cleared area and may result in a violation of this chapter. Any owner who damages or removes any protected woodland on such owner's land without a woodland removal permit or in violation of a woodland removal permit shall be responsible for the damage or removal of such protected woodland, notwithstanding that the damage or removal was performed or caused by another person acting under the authority of such owner. Any owner who performs or allows protected woodland removal to occur on such owner's parcel without a woodland removal permit shall be required to apply retroactively for a woodland removal permit and shall be subject to the penalty provisions of this chapter. A contractor performing work on an owner's parcel is considered to be working under the direction and supervision of the owner, and the owner is responsible for the actions of the contractor that constitute violations of this chapter.
B. If an owner seeks a woodland removal permit, the application for such woodland removal permit shall contain:
1. Name and address of the owner;
2. Commonly known address of the owner's property where the removal shall occur;
3. A written statement indicating the reason for the removal;
4. A description indicated on the woodland delineation map for such owner's parcel of all specific areas of protected woodland to be removed;
5. A dimensioned drawing containing all or a portion of such details as may be specified or required for such plans under section 8-5-3 of this Code, if requested by the Village Ecologist to allow full and fair consideration of the woodland removal permit application;
6. When a site development permit is required, a site development plan sheet entitled "Woodland/Tree Protection & Landscaping Plan" containing all or a portion of such details as may be specified or required for such plans for reviewing such permit under the Riverwoods development ordinance; and
7. Whenever protected woodland has been removed since April 8, 2017, a current woodland delineation survey may be required, if deemed necessary by the Village for measuring the amount of remaining protected woodland with sufficient accuracy.
C. Upon receipt of the owner's application, the Village Ecologist shall visit and inspect the owner's property and visually inspect contiguous and adjoining lots in order to evaluate the application. Subject to compliance with other applicable provisions of this Code, the Village Ecologist shall approve the application and issue a woodland removal permit if, based on a site inspection, the removal of such protected woodland will not reduce protected woodland below the allowable amount under section 9-6-10 of this chapter. If the removal of protected woodland is in accord with this chapter, no charge shall be assessed to the owner for the woodland removal permit (although a charge may apply for a concurrent tree removal permit if native trees are being removed). (Ord. 18-03-05, 3-6-2018)