(A) Vegetation alteration necessary for the construction of structures and sewage treatment systems and the construction of roads and parking areas regulated by § 153.134 are exempt from the vegetation alteration standards that follow.
(B) Removal or alteration of vegetation, except for agricultural and forest management uses as regulated in § 153.138, is allowed subject to the following standards:
(1) Clear-cutting and intensive vegetation clearing within the shore impact zones and on steep slopes are not permitted. Intensive vegetation clearing for forest land conversion to another use outside of these areas is allowable as a conditional use if a soil erosion control and sedimentation plan is developed and approved by the Soil and Water Conservation District in which the property is located.
(2) In shore impact zones and on steep slopes, limited clearing of trees and shrubs and cutting, pruning and trimming of trees is allowed to provide a view to the water from the principal dwelling site and to accommodate the placement of stairways and landings, picnic areas, access paths, beach and watercraft areas, and permitted water-oriented accessory structures of facilities, provided that:
(a) The screening or structures, vehicles or other facilities as viewed from the water, assuming summer, leaf-on conditions, is not substantially reduced;
(b) Along rivers, existing shading of water surfaces is preserved; and
(c) In the shore impact zone, live trees larger than six inches in diameter shall not be cut, except to provide for water-oriented accessory structures or to provide a water-viewing corridor not to exceed 20% of the shoreline width of the lot.
(C) The above provisions are not applicable to the removal of trees, limbs or branches that are dead, diseased or pose safety hazards.
(Ord. passed 3-9-93; Am. Ord. 98-02, passed 11-10-98; Am. Ord. 00-01, passed 5-9-00; Am. Ord. 00-03, passed 6-13-00; Am. Ord. 04-01, passed 8-10-04)