It shall be unlawful for any person or firm to engage in the business or occupation of planting, cutting, trimming, pruning, removing, spraying or otherwise treating street or park trees within the town without first providing sufficient proof of competence, certification or licensing to the town council or its designee. A permit will then be issued (at no charge) to the qualifying party, with an outline of the scope of work to be performed and assure compliance with standards, specifications and inspections. No such proof or permit will be required of any public service company or town employee doing such work in the pursuit of their public service endeavors. (Ord. 166, 12-14-1999)
A. Street Trees To Be Planted: The following list constitutes the official street tree species for the town. No species other than those included in this list may be planted as street trees without the written permission of the town council or its designee. The town arborist will keep on file "The Town of Snowflake Tree Selection Guide", a recommended list of other trees, not designated "Street Trees", that will grow well in our area.
Small Trees (25' Or Less)
| Medium Trees (25' To 60')
| Large Trees (Over 60')
|
Amur maple English hawthorn Crabapple Flowering plum Mayday tree or bird cherry (Prunus padus) | Green or red ash Honey locust (thornless) London plane Callery or flowering pear (Pyrus calleryana) European mountain ash Locust (purple robe) Goldenrain tree (Koelreuteria paniculata) Austrian black pine | Northern red oak |
(Ord. 01-181, 1-23-2001)
B. Spacing: The spacing of street trees will be in accordance with the three (3) species size classes listed in subsection A of this section, and no trees may be planted closer together than the following: small trees, twenty five feet (25'); medium trees, thirty five feet (35'); and large trees, forty feet (40'); except in special plantings designed or approved by a landscape architect.
C. Distance From Curb And Sidewalk: The distance trees may be planted from curbs or curb lines and sidewalks will be in accordance with the three (3) species size classes listed in subsection A of this section. No trees may be planted closer to any curb or sidewalk than the following: small trees, two feet (2'); medium trees, three feet (3'); large trees, four feet (4').
D. Distance From Street Corners And Fire Hydrants: No street tree shall be planted closer than thirty feet (30') of any street corner, measured from the point of nearest intersecting curbs or curb lines. No street tree shall be planted closer than ten feet (10') of any fire hydrant. (Ord. 166, 12-14-1999)
E. Utilities: No street tree shall be planted within five (5) lateral feet of any underground water line, sewer line, transmission line or other utility. No street tree other than those species listed as "small trees" in subsection A of this section may be planted under or within ten (10) lateral feet of any overhead utility wire. (Ord. 01-181, 1-23-2001)
F. Public Tree Care: The town shall have the right to plant, prune, treat, maintain and remove trees, plants and shrubs within the lines of all streets, alleys, avenues, lanes, squares and public grounds, as may be necessary to ensure public safety or to preserve or enhance the symmetry and beauty of such public grounds.
The town council or its designee may remove or cause or order to be removed, any tree or part thereof which is in an unsafe condition or which, by reason of its nature, is injurious to sewers, electric power lines, gas lines, water lines or other public improvements or is affected with any injurious fungus, insect or other pest. This section does not prohibit the planting of street trees by adjacent property owners providing that the selection and location of said trees are in accordance with subsections A through D of this section.
G. Tree Topping: It shall be unlawful as a normal practice for any person, firm, or city department to top any street tree, park tree, or other tree on public property. Trees severely damaged by storms or other causes, or certain trees under utility wires or other obstructions where other pruning practices are impractical may be exempted from this subsection at the determination of the town council or its designee.
H. Pruning, Corner Clearance: Every owner of any tree overhanging any street or right of way within the town shall prune the branches so that such branches shall not obstruct the light from any street lamp or obstruct the view of any street intersection and so that there shall be a clear space of eight feet (8') above the surface of the street or sidewalk.
Said owners shall remove all dead, diseased or dangerous trees, or broken or decayed limbs, which constitute a menace to the safety of the public. The town shall have the right to prune any tree or shrub on private property when it interferes with the proper spread of light along the street from a streetlight or interferes with visibility of any traffic-control device or sign.
I. Removal Of Stumps: All stumps of street and park trees shall be removed below the surface of the ground so that the top of the stump shall not project above the surface of the ground. (Ord. 166, 12-14-1999)