The following regulations shall govern the retention of existing trees:
(a) All trees having a circumference (as measured four and one-half feet from the ground) of twenty-four or more inches shall, unless otherwise authorized by the Planning Commission, be preserved whenever a proposed subdivision has been submitted for approval. The Planning Commission shall have the authority, on a case by case basis, to require the preservation of trees with a smaller diameter where necessary.
(b) In order to better protect trees and their respective root systems from possible damage during the construction of a subdivision, no blacktop or concrete shall be poured, within five (5) feet of the base of all trees having a circumference of less than thirty-six inches. Similarly, no blacktop or concrete shall be poured within four (4) feet of the base of all trees having a circumference of between thirty-six and fifty-nine inches; ten (10) feet of the base of all trees having a circumference of between sixty and eighty-three inches; and fifteen (15) feet of the base of all trees having a circumference of eighty-four inches or more. In addition, wooden staking or brick barriers shall completely surround such a preservation zone in order to further protect against potential harm from construction equipment. Further, no fill dirt shall be permitted to be placed within such a preservation zone in order to help prevent possible root damage. Furthermore, to protect an existing tree on a construction site, the grade should not be altered higher or lower than six inches (6") from the existing grade within the dripline of the tree. The dripline is the area on the ground plane that relates to the full circumference of the tree’s canopy. While minimum distances for disturbance and paving have been established above, to provide the best protection for a tree to survive, no construction should occur within the dripline of the tree.
(c) Unless authorized by the Planning Commission, no construction equipment shall, during the earth-moving process, be permitted to interfere with the integrity of a tree's branching system.
(d) Street trees, as used herein, shall mean those deciduous or coniferous trees which are planted within a public right-of-way, or on easements immediately adjacent to public right-of-ways. The planting of those trees shall be undertaken in all residential zoning districts in accordance with the following:
(1) At least two street trees shall be required to be planted for each one- or two- family lot for which a zoning permit has been issued.
(2) At least one street tree shall be required to be planted for each fifty linear feet of lot frontage for which a zoning permit has been issued within a four-family or multi-family residential zoning district.
(3) Whenever on-site street trees have been specifically delineated for preservation in the same manner or proportion as stated in subsection 1115.15(d)(l) or (2) hereof, the street tree planting requirement may be modified by the Planning Commission.
(4) Street tree plantings shall be restricted in those locations where damage to underground or aerial utilities may occur, or where a conflict with driveways, sidewalks, walkways/bikeways, curbs and gutters, water mains and sewer facilities is likely. Further, in order to prevent interference with motorists' or pedestrians' site distances, no street tree shall be permitted to be planted within thirty feet of intersecting rights of way.
(5) Whenever the Planning Commission has determined that sidewalks will not be required within a residential zoning district, all street trees shall be planted eight (8) feet back from the edge of the street curb.
(6) All street tree plantings shall be inspected by the City Engineer and Director of Public Works or Building Inspector/Code Enforcement Officer.
(7) The following shall constitute an approved list of trees most suitable for planting along a publicly dedicated street:
A. Cherry family.
1. Japanese Flowering Cherry.
2. Sargent Cherry.
B. Crab family.
1. Snowdrift Crab.
2. White Angel Crab.
C. Dogwood family.
1. Pink Dogwood.
2. White Dogwood.
D. Hawthorn family.
1. Lavelle Hawthorn.
2. Washington Hawthorn.
E. Linden family.
1. American Linden.
2. European Linden.
3. Little Leaf Linden.
F. Locust family.
1. Moraine Locust.
2. Skyline Locust.
G. Maple family.
1. Norway Maple.
2. Red Maple.
3. Sugar Maple.
H. Evergreen family.
1. Austrian Pine.
2. Colorado Blue Spruce.
3. Douglas Fir.
4. Norway Spruce.
5. Scotch Pine.
I. Other suitable trees.
1. Amur Cork Tree.
2. European Beech.
3. Ginkgo.
4. Pin Oak.
5. Red Oak.
6. Sweet Gum.
7. Sycamore.
(8) None of the following trees shall be permitted to be planted as street trees:
A. Box Elder.
B. Catalpa.
C. Horsechestnut.
D. Mulberry.
E. Poplar.
F. Silver Maple.
G. Siberian Elm.
H. Tree-of-Heaven.
I. Willow.
J. Ash family.
1. American Ash.
2. European Mountain Ash.
3. Green Ash.
4. Marshall's Seedless Green Ash.
(9) All deciduous street trees shall be planted so as to have a minimum in-ground height of eight feet. Similarly, all coniferous street trees shall have a minimum in-ground height of six feet.
(10) All required street trees which, due to accident, damage, disease or other cause, fail to show a healthy growth shall be replaced within a reasonable period of time by the developer.
(Ord. 45-08. Passed 12-15-08.)