The guiding principle for the City's Tree Ordinance shall be in keeping with the arboricultural industry's "best practice" of RIGHT TREE, RIGHT PLACE which emphasizes the selection of the proper tree for the proper location and site conditions.
(a) The Director shall direct, regulate, and control the planting, maintenance, removal, fertilization, pruning, and bracing of trees on the streets and other public places in the City; and shall cause the provisions of this chapter to be enforced. In his or her absence, the duties shall be the responsibility of a qualified alternate designated by the Director.
(b) The Director shall have the authority to affix reasonable conditions to the granting of permits in accordance with the provisions of this chapter and to ensure safety and preserve the aesthetics of public places. Exceptions may be made upon written recommendations from the Urbana Shade Tree Commission to the Director.
(1) All street trees shall only be those tree species listed on the preferred tree list, and such trees shall only be planted within the tree lawn, with written permission from the property owner.
(2) The City reserves the right to remove street trees within the right-of-way when operational, construction, or other business needs of the City dictate.
(3) Large and medium trees shall be preferable and considered for planting as street trees in the tree lawn with the appropriate tree lawn width and when listed on the Preferred Tree List.
(4) The following minimum widths of tree lawns should be followed for tree planting: eight (8) feet for large trees, and six (6) feet for medium trees.
(5) All planting of trees within the public right-of-way shall be prohibited without an approved right-of-way permit through the Engineering Office.
(6) The minimum spacing of new street trees shall follow the following regulations: sixty (60) feet between large trees, forty (40) feet between medium trees.
(7) All new street trees shall be planted a minimum of fifteen (15) feet from all signs, driveways, and fire hydrants, and a minimum of forty (40) feet from overhead power/electric lines (for medium trees) and sixty (60) feet (for large trees).
(8) All new street trees shall be planted a minimum of ten (10) feet from all underground utilities. Planting shall be permissible in the tree lawn parallel to natural gas mains if the ten (10) feet clearance is maintained.
(9) All new street trees shall be planted a minimum of thirty (30) feet from all intersections.
(10) Trees shall not be planted under overhead utility lines.
(c) The Director shall have the authority to formulate a Master Street Tree Plan after a public hearing and after receiving the recommendation of the Shade Tree Commission. The Master Street Tree Plan shall specify the species of trees to be planted on the streets and in public places within the City. From and after the adoption and approval of such Plan by the Commission, or any amendment thereof, all plantings shall conform thereto. Such factors in determining the species of the trees for the various locations, and such Plan may be amended by the Director, with the approval of the Commission, as circumstances require. The Commission has the authority to develop a Preferred Tree List of acceptable and unacceptable trees that shall be reviewed, revised, and approved each calendar year.
The Commission shall have the authority to develop and recommend other policies and procedures as long as these policies and procedures are in full accordance with this chapter. (Ord. 4159-20. Passed 1-21-20.)