A. Landscape Plan: A landscape plan indicating the placement of all trees, shrubs and other landscaping features as well as a species list and percentage or number of each species of plant as may be planned for shall be submitted for approval by the plan commission/zoning board of appeals. The plan commission/zoning board of appeals shall have the power to exclude any species of plant which, in its opinion, shall be unsatisfactory. No planting or seeding or sodding shall begin without an approved plan. Trees should not be planted in drainage easements and/or drainage and utility easements.
B. General Criteria For Trees: The following are general criteria for trees to be planted in and upon public rights of way:
1. All trees shall be grown in a nursery located in the northern half of the state of Illinois.
2. Deciduous trees selected for planting in the village shall be healthy, free of insects and diseases, bark bruises and scrapes on the trunk or limbs before and after planting. Selected trees shall have a straight trunk with limbs not lower than six feet (6') above the ground.
3. Tree holes may be machine dug, but if any existing lawns are damaged, it shall be the responsibility of the developer to restore these lawns to their original condition. All trees shall be hand planted and planted straight.
4. The planting season shall be approximately October 15 to December 1, and March 15 to May 1.
5. Trees shall have a trunk diameter, measured twelve inches (12") above the ball, of not less than one and one-half inches (11/2"). Wherever possible, trees shall be spaced not more than sixty feet (60') apart on each side of the right of way.
6. Trees shall be planted in the parkway along all streets no closer than six feet (6') from the driveways and forty feet (40') from intersections, as measured from the right of way extended. In addition, no trees are to be planted within six feet (6') on either side of a fire hydrant.
7. Prior to planting, the developer shall submit to the plan commission/zoning board of appeals a list of the number and types of trees that are to be planted.
A minimum of two (2) species of trees shall be required on all parcels under twenty (20) acres. More species may be required by the plan commission/zoning board of appeals for parcels over twenty (20) acres.
As directed by the plan commission/zoning board of appeals, the trees shall be planted by alternating the different species on sixty foot (60') spacing rotation on each side of the street.
8. All trees planted by the developer shall be guaranteed for two (2) years from the date of planting and shall be replaced by the developer at no charge to the village, should they die or fail to grow adequately in the opinion of the plan commission/zoning board of appeals. The replacement tree shall be of the same size, species and quality, and shall carry the same two (2) year guarantee.
C. Planting Requirements:
1. Trees shall be planted on back slope of drainage ditches or at an elevation above water flow line.
2. The planting hole shall be twelve inches (12") larger in diameter than the diameter of the ball.
3. The planting hole shall be no deeper than the height of the ball. The tree shall be planted no deeper than the depth at which it was growing in the nursery.
4. All burlap, rope and wire must be removed from the top third of the plant ball before planting.
5. In most instances, the backfill around the ball shall be the same soil as that which was removed from the hole; however, in cases where rocks, stones, clay, etc., are encountered, topsoil shall be used.
6. Any excess soil, debris, or trimmings shall be removed from the planting site immediately upon completion of planting each individual tree.
7. All trees shall be staked to ensure that the trees remain planted in a straight, neat manner.
8. All tags, wires, and plastic ties shall be removed from each tree.
9. All trees shall have their trunks protected with wrap paper from the base of the trunk up to the first branch.
10. All wrap paper and guy wires must be removed from the tree one year after the tree is planted.
D. Species Of Trees Allowed:
1. As a suggestion, the following species of trees may be planted:
Blackgum | ||
Nyssa sylvatica | ||
Elm | ||
Ulmus x accolade | Accolade elm | |
Ulmus x frontier | Frontier elm | |
Ulmus x morton varieties | Morton, morton stalwart, triumph | |
Ginkgo (male, nonfruiting) | ||
Ginkgo biloba varieties | Magyar, princeton sentry, autumn gold | |
Hackberry | ||
Celtis occidentalis | Common hackberry | |
Honeylocust (thornless) | ||
Gleditsia triacanthos inermis varieties | Shademaster, skyline | |
Japanese Tree Lilac | ||
Syringa reticulate | ||
Kentucky coffeetree | ||
Gymnocladus dioicus | ||
Linden | ||
Tilia americana varieties | Redmond, wandell | |
Tilia cordata varieties | Greenspire, baileyei, glenleven | |
Maples | ||
Acer miyabi "Morton" | State Street maple | |
Acer platanoides varieties | Deborah, crimson king, emerald lustre, emerald queen, superform | |
Acer rubrum varieties | Autumn flame, bowhall, October glory, brandywine, red sunset, northwood | |
Acer saccharum varieties | Crescendo, green mountain | |
Acer x freeman varieties | Autumn blaze maple, autumn fantasy maple, marmo maple, sienna glen | |
Oak | ||
Quercus bicolor | Swamp white oak | |
Quercus macrocarpa | Burr oak | |
Quercus rubra | Red oak | |
Quercus muehlenbergii | Chinkapin oak | |
Shagbark Hickory | ||
Carya ovata | ||
2. Other species of trees will be considered, but must be approved by the village.
E. Safeguarding Trees:
1. During any type of construction work, the developer shall place such guards around all nearby trees to prevent injury to such trees, especially injury that may occur to oak trees, because of disturbance within the drip line.
2. No subdivision streets shall be accepted by the village without a letter of compliance by the plan commission/zoning board of appeals stating the landscaping is in acceptable condition. (Ord. 2011-942, 7-14-2011; amd. Ord. 2019-1210, 6-13-2019)