The following definitions apply to this chapter.
ARBORIST.
(1) A person currently certified by the western chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture as an expert on the care of trees;
(2) A consulting arborist who satisfies the requirements of the American Society of Consulting Arborists; or
(3) Such other qualified professionals who the Director determines have gained through experience the qualifications to identify, remove or replace trees.
BASELINE RETENTION CANOPY SURVEY (BRCS). An aerial photograph taken in 1993 by the United States Department of Agriculture of San Benito County that shows the existing canopy coverage for areas within San Benito County.
CANOPY. The spread of the branches and the area within them from the top of the trunk to the outside diameter edge of an individual tree, massed individuals or massed groupings of trees as shown on the baseline aerial photograph.
CANOPY RETENTION STANDARD (CRS). The allowable amount of canopy removal. It defines a horizontal and vertical relationship between the coverage of vegetation canopies as they cast an overlay above the ground. The specific definitions for the horizontal and vertical retention standard are as follows:
(1) HORIZONTAL RETENTION STANDARD. The acreage of canopy coverage for a specific area when viewed from above. This definition shall apply to individual or massed individual trees within a site. The horizontal retention standards are shown in Table 19.33.007(1).
(2) VERTICAL RETENTION STANDARD. The reduction of the diameter of the outermost edges of the canopy (crown) of an individual tree. The amount of branching to be retained for the individual tree crown during pruning for any reason shall not exceed 25% of the outside diameter of the crown. A cut below the crown is prohibited.
CLEAR CUTTING. The removal of native woodland trees, more than 90% of the baseline retention standard for canopy cover for a specific site over a time period of less than or equal to ten years. Specific canopy reduction standards based upon percentages are shown in Table 19.33.007(1) of this chapter.
CROWN. The area of the tree between the outside diameter of the canopy to its lowermost edge where the primary branching structure meets the trunk and splints into separate multi-branching.
DISCRETIONARY PERMIT. A permit issued by the county on a zoning /development application that requires judgment in making a decision to approve, approve with conditions, or deny an application.
DIRECTOR. The Director of the San Benito County Planning Department or his or her designee.
GRADING. Excavating, filling, dredging, disking, prospecting, exploratory digging and drilling for geotechnical reports.
NATIVE TREE. Any tree listed in Exhibit A, Trees Native to San Benito County.
PERSON. Any individual, firm, association, corporation, organization or partnership, or any city, county, district or the state or any department or agency thereof.
SITE. A parcel, lot or a series of contiguous parcels of land for which a permit is requested or issued to conduct tree removal pursuant to this chapter.
TREE REMOVAL. The destruction of any protected tree or the alteration of any protected tree which may adversely affect the health and survival of the tree. Routine trimming and pruning inconsistent with vertical retention standards is considered TREE REMOVAL for the purpose of this chapter.
WOODLAND. A tree, or combination of trees, occupying an area which includes lower growing forms of vegetation.
(1966 Code, § 33-2) (Ord. 757, § 1(part))