(A) Street trees.
(1) Requirements.
(a) Street trees are required to be planted under this section within all land developments and major subdivisions.
(b) Street trees shall not be required for frontage along a residential or agricultural lot of more than three acres.
1. Planning Commission approval. The Planning Commission may approve other species of trees than those listed below if the applicant proves to the satisfaction of either Commission that the trees would be sturdy, attractive and resistant to disease and road salt.
2. Permitted species of trees.
a. Deciduous.
i. Gleditsia triacanthos - Thornless Locust;
ii. Acer rubrum - American Red Maple;
iii. Acer saccharum - Sugar Maple;
iv. Celtis occidentalis - Common Hackberry;
v. Fagus sylvatica - European Beech;
vi. Fraxinus Pennsylvania - Green Ash;
vii. Fraxinus americana - White Ash;
viii. Ginko biloba fastigiata - Maiden Hair Tree (male only);
ix. Liquidambar styraciflue - Sweet Gum;
x. Liriodendron tulipifera - Tulip Poplar;
xi. Quercus phellos - Willow Oak;
xii. Quercus acutissima - Sawtooth Oak;
xiii. Quercus imbricaria - Shingle Oak;
xiv. Quercus borealis - Red Oak;
xv. Quercus coccinea - Scarlet Oak;
xvi. Sophora japonica - Chinese Scholar Tree;
xvii. Quercus macrocarpa - Bur Oak;
xviii. Quercus alba - White Oak;
xix. Quercus montana - Chestnut Oak;
xx. Quercus velutina - Black Oak;
xxi. Tilia american - American Linden;
xxii. Tilia petiolaris - Silver Linden;
xxiii. Tilia euchlora - Crimean Linden;
xxiv. Tilia cordata - Little Leaf European Linden; and
xv. Zelkova serrata - Zelkova.
b. Evergreen.
i. Ilex opaca - American Holly;
ii. Picea abies - Norway Spruce;
iii. Picea glauca - White Spruce;
iv. Picea omorika - Serbian Spruce;
v. Picea pungens - Colorado Spruce;
vi. Pinus nigra - Austrian Pine;
vii. Pinus strobus - White Pine;
viii. Pinus thunbergi - Japanese Black Pine;
ix. Pseudotsuga taxifolia - Douglas Fir;
x. Tsuga canadensis - Canada Hemlock; and
xi. Tsuga caroliniana - Carolina Hemlock.
(2) Quality of trees.
(a) Trees permitted shall be of symmetrical growth, free of insect pests and disease, and durable under the maintenance contemplated.
(b) Trees which have died or have become diseased or pest-ridden within 18 months from the time of planting shall be replaced by the developer.
(3) Minimum size. The trunk diameter (measured at a height of one foot above the finished grade level) shall be a minimum of two inches.
(4) Planting and maintenance.
(a) Trees shall be planted and staked in conformance with good landscaping practices.
(b) Trees adjacent to or within parking areas shall be properly protected from damage by vehicles by raised curbs, similar devices or sufficient setback.
(c) Required trees shall be properly maintained and shall not be removed by the developer without being replaced by another tree that meets the requirements of this section.
(5) Required number and spacing of street trees.
(a) Generally. Within and abutting all land developments and major subdivisions, along any street (or any access drive serving more than one commercial, industrial or institutional principal use), an average of one deciduous street tree shall be required for every 50 feet of distance along the street right-of-way line on each affected side of the street or access drive.
(b) Spacing.
1. The trees required under this section shall be spaced throughout the development along streets, but are not required to be planted at exact intervals and may be clustered following an approved plan.
2. Trees shall be located and trimmed so that they do not restrict sight distance at driveway and street intersections.
(6) Location of street trees.
(a) The trunks of required street trees shall be planted within the street right-of-way but at a minimum of:
1. Two feet from any established curb line; and
2. Six feet from the cartway if there is no curbing.
(b) Where trees are to be planted between the curb and the sidewalk, special consideration shall be given to the species of trees that are planted.
(7) Other requirements. The street trees required under this section shall be in addition to any trees required under other borough regulations, including the parking lot landscaping requirements of the zoning ordinance (as adopted by reference in Chapter 155 of this code of ordinances).
(8) Credit for existing trees. If existing healthy street trees are to be protected and preserved that would, in the determination of the Borough Engineer, generally meet the intent and requirements of this section, they may serve as a credit towards the number of street trees required to be planted.
(B) Ground cover.
(1) After completion of a project, all exposed ground surfaces that are not paved within a subdivision or land development, and that are not covered by approved gravel areas or decorative stones or similar material, shall be covered by a natural ground cover that will prevent soil erosion and the emanation of dust.
(2) The vegetative cover shall not be poisonous in nature.
(C) Buffer yards. See the requirements for buffer yards in the borough zoning ordinance (as adopted by reference in Chapter 155 of this code of ordinances).
(Ord. passed 2-3-1992)