9-8-3: TREE PRESERVATION PLAN AND REQUIREMENTS:

   A.   Contents of Tree Preservation Plans: The tree preservation plans shall include the following information:

      1.   The name, telephone number and address of applicant, property owner, developer and builder.

      2.   Delineation of the buildings, structures, or paved surfaces situated thereon and/or contemplated to be built thereon.

      3.   Delineation of all areas to be graded and limits of land disturbance.

      4.   A map (tree survey) showing the locations of all existing qualifying trees, each of which shall be keyed to the tree list.

      5.   A list noting the size, species, and condition of all existing qualifying trees, as defined by the Village Code, within the area to be platted or on the parcel proposed to be developed. Tree condition shall be determined by a certified arborist, forester or landscape architect in keeping with the definitions in Table 1 , “Tree Condition Rating Scale” below.

      6.   Size, species, condition and location of all existing qualifying trees located on adjacent properties whose trunks are located within twenty feet (20') of the subject property line. Tree condition shall be determined by a certified arborist, forester or landscape architect in keeping with the definitions in Table 1 , “Tree Condition Rating Scale” below.

      7.   Identification of all qualifying trees proposed to be removed. These trees shall be identified in both graphic and tabular form.

      8.   Calculations showing how many replacement trees are required based on Table 2 , "Tree Replacement Schedule", of this section.

      9.   Calculations showing how many replacement trees are proposed.

      10.   Size, species, and location of all replacement trees proposed to be planted on the property in accordance with Table 2 , "Tree Replacement Schedule", of this section.

      11.   Measures proposed to protect existing trees to be retained, both on the subject property and on neighboring properties within twenty feet (20') of the subject property line, in keeping with Section 9-8-3 -B below.

      12.   Current plat of survey of the property.

      13.   Signature of the person preparing the plan.

      14.   A current certificate issued by an International Society of Arboriculture certified arborist, a Society of American Foresters certified forester, or Illinois registered landscape architect stating that the tree preservation plan complies with the provisions of the tree preservation regulations.

      15.   As determined by the Zoning Officer, additional information that may be needed for complete understanding of the requested tree preservation plan approval shall be provided by the applicant. Further, should the Zoning Officer determine that one or more of the items indicated in this subsection are not relevant to or needed to consider the requested tree preservation plan approval, the Zoning Officer may waive the requirement to provide any item listed in this Section 9-8-3 -A.

   B.   Tree Replacement: The number of trees required as replacement for qualifying trees removed shall be as follows:

      1.   Rating one (1) trees shall be replaced as indicated in Table 2 below.

      2.   Rating two (2) trees shall be replaced at half the rate indicated in Table 2 below.

      3.   Rating three trees shall be replaced at a rate of one quarter of the rate indicated in Table 2 .

      4.`No replacement trees shall be required for Rating 4 or Rating 5 trees, as defined in Table 1 , “Tree Condition Rating Scale”, of this section.

      5.   In calculating the total number of replacement trees, sums including a fraction of a replacement tree shall be rounded up to the nearest whole number.

      6.   Fee In-Lieu: It may be impractical to plant the required number of replacement trees on the project site due to space limitations or the density of existing trees. Such determination shall be made by the Zoning Officer based on evidence provided by the applicant. If such is found to be the case the Village may allow the payment of a fee in-lieu for each replacement tree not planted on the subject property. Said fee shall be as specified in the Village of Woodridge Fee Schedule. The collected fee in-lieu shall be used to plant trees on public property at the City’s discretion.

      7.   Replacement trees required in addition to required landscaping.

 

TABLE 1: Tree Condition Rating Scale
Rating	Description	General Criteria
1	Excellent	The tree is typical of the species, has less than ten percent (10%) deadwood in the crown that is attributable to normal causes, has no other observed problems and requires no remedial action.
2	Good	The tree is typical of the species and/or has less than thirty percent (30%) deadwood in the crown, one (1) or two (2) minor problems that are not imminently lethal to the tree, and no significant decay or structural problems, but the tree may need remedial care above normal care in order to minimize the impact of future stress and to ensure continued health.
3	Fair	The tree is not typical of the species and/or has significant problems such as thirty percent (30%) to fifty percent (50%) deadwood in the crown, serious decay or structural defect, insects, disease or other problems that can be imminently lethal to the tree or create a hazardous tree if not corrected in a short period of time or if the tree is subjected to additional stress.
4	Poor	The tree is not typical of the species and/or has over fifty percent (50%) deadwood in the crown, major decay or structural problems, is hazardous or is severely involved with insects, disease, or other problems that even if aggressively corrected would not result in the long term survival of the tree.
5	Dead	Less than ten percent (10%) of the tree shows signs of life.

 

Table 2: Tree Replacement Schedule
Type Of Tree Removed	Size	Number Of Replacement Trees Required
Deciduous (size is DBH)	6 inch up to, but not including, 12 inch	1
	12 inch up to, but not including, 24 inch	2
	24 inch up to, but not including, 36 inch	3
	36 inch up to, but not including, 48 inch	4
	48 inch up to, but not including, 60 inch	5
	60 inch and larger	5 plus 1 additional tree for each 12 inches of diameter
Evergreen (size is height)	112 foot up to, but not including, 24 foot	2
	24 foot and larger	4

 

   C.   Replacement Tree Requirements:

      1.   All replacement shade trees shall have a minimum caliper of three inches (3”).

      2.   All replacement coniferous trees shall have a minimum height of six feet (6’).

      3.   Replacement trees may not include any tree included in the definition of a Rating Two through Rating Five in this Code.

      4.   A variety of tree species are encouraged to promote a diverse tree canopy and minimize the impact from disease and infestation, thus when twenty (20) or more replacement trees are required no more than twenty percent (20%) of the replacement trees shall be of one (1) species type.

      5.   A maximum of twenty percent (20%) of replacement trees may be coniferous trees.

   D.   Tree Preservation Priority Areas: The applicant shall preserve as many trees as possible, placing highest priority for preservation upon those trees located in:

      1.   Wooded wetlands.

      2.   Wooded floodplains.

      3.   Wooded stream corridors.

      4.   Wooded slopes equal to or greater than twenty five percent (25%) slope.

      5.   The perimeter of the subject property.

   E.   Transplanted Trees: Existing trees less than six inches (6") diameter at breast height (DBH) may be transplanted elsewhere on site and used to satisfy any tree replacement requirements or landscape requirements of this chapter provided they meet the minimum size, species, condition and quality requirements for new and/or replacement trees.

   F.   Tree Protection Measures: The protective measures listed below shall be incorporated into all tree preservation plans, and shall be adhered to on site prior to and during construction:

      1.   A tree protection fence shall be installed prior to the commencement of grading or construction and located so as to protect the critical root zone of all trees designated for preservation in accordance with the approved tree preservation plan. Said fence shall be located no closer to each tree to be preserved than at the outside edge of each tree's dripline.

      2.   Tree protection fencing shall consist of brightly colored plastic mesh or snow fencing a minimum of forty-eight inches (48") in height. It shall be securely attached to metal fence posts that are driven into the ground and that are spaced no more than eight feet (8') apart.

      3.   No encroachment, grading, trenching, filling, compaction, waste dumping, concrete washout, change in soil chemistry, or storage of materials, equipment or vehicles shall occur within the fenced areas.

      4.   When roots two inches (2") in diameter and greater must be severed, the ends shall be cut cleanly with a saw under the supervision or direction of an arborist certified by the International Society of Arboriculture to prevent the onset of decay. If they are accidentally broken or crushed, the root shall be saw cut above the ragged end. In all cases, the cut roots shall be immediately buried, mulched, or otherwise kept moist to preserve viability.

      5.   Tree protection fencing shall remain in place until the completion of construction, as determined by the Zoning Officer.

   G.   Amendments To Approved Tree Preservation Plan: Once a tree preservation plan has been approved, the Zoning Officer may authorize deviations if changed facts or circumstances not within the control of the applicant create an undue hardship in complying with the approved plan. The proposed amended tree preservation plan shall be submitted for review and be accompanied by a written statement describing the proposed changes and reasons therefor. No amendment shall be permitted to delete a qualifying tree from preservation that has been damaged or where the provisions of the approved plan have not been followed unless the amendment provides for the addition of required replacement trees to compensate for the damage or loss of said qualifying tree(s).

   H.   Maintenance Guarantee: A deposit shall be made to the Village in cash or letter of credit and in a form acceptable to the Village Attorney equal to ten percent (10%) of the estimated cost of the installation and implementation of the tree protection measures and required replacement trees. The deposit shall be a guarantee of survival of the preserved trees and replacement trees and shall be held by the village for a period of two (2) years from the date of acceptance of the last public or private improvement for the development, or if none, of the date of issuance of the final occupancy permit. After such two (2) years, the deposit shall be refunded if no trees have died or are in poor condition, as determined by the Zoning Officer. If trees have died or are in poor condition, then the party that posted the guarantee shall replace them. A portion of the deposit shall continue to be held an additional two (2) years from the date of replacement to guarantee the survival of the replacement trees, the amount to be determined by the Village Engineer. The balance of the original deposit, if any, shall be refunded.

   I.   Penalties For Noncompliance with the Tree Preservation Plan:

      1.   At their discretion, the Village Engineer or the Zoning Officer may issue a stop work order for noncompliance with the tree preservation plan. Stop work orders shall remain in effect until the site is brought into compliance with the tree preservation plan.

      2.   Fines may be assessed in accordance with Section 1-4-1 of the Village Code for noncompliance with the tree preservation plan. If the offense involves damage to qualifying trees, each damaged tree shall constitute a separate offense. Each day the site is in noncompliance shall constitute a separate offense.

      3.   Replacements for damaged trees shall be provided at twice the rate indicated in Table 1 , "Tree Replacement Schedule", of this section. (Ord. 2024-6, 3-7-2024)