(a) Calculation of Required Vegetation Replacement. Where earth disturbance exceeds 500 square feet, applied independently and cumulatively, replacement plantings shall be installed in accordance with the standards set forth in both paragraphs (1) and (2) below. Street trees and trees planted in buffer zones shall count towards replacement tree requirements. The selection of acceptable replacement plantings shall be subject to approval by the Borough.
(1) Replacement of trees removed: For each tree with a caliper greater than eight inches to be removed, required replacement trees shall be calculated in accordance with the following schedule.
For each tree to be removed, Minimum number & Caliper
at the following calipers: of replacement trees:
One, 8" to 18" caliper One 3½"" caliper
One, greater than 18", to 24" caliper Two 3½"" caliper
One, greater than 24", to 36" caliper Three 3½" caliper
One, greater than 36" caliper Four 3½" caliper
(2) Additional tree planting requirements: For each two thousand square feet, applied independently and cumulatively, of new impervious surface that will be created as a result of development, one tree of at least two inches to two and one-half inches caliper shall be planted.
(b) In the event that the applicant establishes to the satisfaction of the Borough that constraints incident to the land itself (including, but without limitation, extreme topography, unsuitable soils, rock outcrops and existing uninterrupted dense canopy) render it impracticable to locate on the lot the required number of replacement plantings or street trees, then, at the election of the Borough and where approved by the Borough as a condition of any applicable subdivision or land development approval, the applicant shall undertake one or a combination of the following:
(1) Install fewer, larger or more valuable trees with an aggregate cost as installed and guaranteed not less than the estimated aggregate cost of the required number of plantings.
(2) Install required replacement plantings at a site or sites other than that subject to replacement planting.
(3) In lieu of actual installation of replacement plantings, place the equivalent cash value, as agreed upon by the Borough and the applicant, for required replacement plantings into a Borough fund established for that purpose. Such fund shall be utilized at the discretion of the Borough for the management and maintenance of public street trees and/or public park areas within the Borough.
(c) Required replacement vegetation and their measurement shall conform to the standards of the publication "American or U.S.A. Standard for Nursery Stock", American National Standards Institute (ANSI) or U.S.A.S. Z60.1 of the American Association of Nurserymen, as currently amended. All plant material used on the site shall be hardy to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Zone 6 designation and shall be nursery grown, unless it is determined by the Borough that the transplanting of plant material partially fulfills the requirements of this section.
(d) Selection of the species of replacement plantings and determination of planting locations shall reflect careful site evaluation, including the site's geology, hydrology, soils and microclimate, shall promote the design objectives of the plantings including visual screening, noise abatement and energy conservation, and shall utilize as much as possible native plant material.
(e) The locations, selected species, and sizes of all replacement plantings, along with a planting schedule tied to the timing and/or phasing of the construction, shall be indicated on the final subdivision/land development landscape plan or building permit application, as applicable, and shall be subject to approval by the Borough.
(f) Vegetation intended to remain post-disturbance shall be protected from damage during construction, including, but not limited to, damage to above-ground vegetation structure, damage to root structure, and pollution of soil impacting the vegetation.
(g) Where any tree greater than twelve inches caliper is removed without prior Borough approval, replacement plantings in addition to any otherwise required shall be installed in a manner acceptable to the Borough at a rate of ten trees of at least three and one-half inch caliper for each tree so removed. Any other applicable penalty under law also shall be imposed.
(Ord. 1044. Passed 8-8-11.)