The appropriate reviewing department(s) shall give priority to inspection of those requests based upon hazardous conditions, and may refer any request to the appropriate committee/commission for determination.
(A) Permit required. No native oak and sycamore tree, heritage or historic tree, where that tree is on public or private property, or any other mature tree on public property except as provided for in division (B) of this section, or is associated with a proposal for urban development, shall be removed, cut down or otherwise destroyed, unless a tree removal permit has been issued by the city. The Planning Director shall establish the format and information required for a tree removal permit consistent with this subchapter. In no event shall a permit be denied if to do so would eliminate all reasonable economic use of the property.
(B) Single parcel review requirement. Permits for removal of native oak and sycamore trees, heritage or historic trees, and other mature trees on any single parcel shall be required from the appropriate committee/commission or director or designee.
(C) Site inspection. Prior to the issuance of such permit, the appropriate director, or designee, shall inspect the premises involved and shall designate the tree(s) to be removed or moved. Failure to provide access to the premises shall be grounds for denial of the permit.
(D) Project approval required. No tree removal permit shall be issued for the removal of any tree on any lot associated with a proposal for urban development unless the project has been approved by the city or unless the Director of Planning, or his or her designee, determines that the immediate removal of the tree is required because of the condition of the tree with respect to disease, danger of collapse of all or any portion of the tree, proximity to an existing structure or interference with utility services.
(E) Removal not associated with a proposal for urban development. Where tree(s) are proposed for removal that are not associated with a proposal for urban development, the Director, or designee, may condition a tree removal permit upon the replacement of certain tree(s). Any applicant for a tree removal permit shall not be required to expend more on the replacement tree(s) than the appraised value of the tree(s) for which a permit is required. An appraisal shall be done in accordance with the adopted procedures for implementation of the tree ordinance.
(F) Removal associated with a proposal for urban development. Where tree(s) are proposed for removal that are associated with a proposal for urban development, the Director, or his or her designee, shall cause an appraisal of the value of said tree(s) to be prepared in accordance with the adopted procedures. The resulting value shall be applied to upgrading the size of tree plantings associated with the project. Trees for which no tree report has been required pursuant to the guidelines for reports on native oak, sycamore, heritage, historic and mature trees associated with proposals for urban development (a) and (b) of the procedures for implementation shall not be subject to appraisal or replacement by value.
(G) Tree replacement waiver. In no case shall an applicant for a tree removal permit be required to replace or otherwise pay for the value of any tree which:
(1) The city has directed the applicant to remove so that a public street may be constructed along an alignment determined or approved by the City Engineer or adequate line-of-sight distance may be achieved in order to assure public safety; or
(2) Removal was necessitated due to the poor health of the tree.
('81 Code, § 17.56.050) (Ord. 954, passed - -92) Penalty, see § 156.999