(a) General regulations. Prior to any construction activities on a site containing protected or public trees, a tree preservation plan including a tree survey, a site plan addressing street tree and public tree requirements, and a tree removal permit (if applicable) must be submitted to the city for review and approval. Prior to any construction activities on a site containing protected or public trees, excepting for heavily wooded sites, the developer or owner shall be required to have tree replacement plan in place and approved.
(b) Certificate of zoning compliance. A certificate of zoning compliance shall not be issued unless the tree survey and tree preservation plans have been submitted and approved by the city. No work shall begin on the site until the site has been inspected by the city for compliance with the tree preservation plan, including installation of protective fencing and tree preservation signage. In the event that work is started without the city inspection, a re-inspection fee will be collected for each re-inspection.
(c) Site layout and design. All reasonable efforts shall be undertaken in the architectural layout and site engineering design of the proposed development to preserve existing protected trees.
(1) It shall be required that building(s), driveway(s), sidewalks, bike paths, storm water management facilities, and parking areas be designed in such a way as to avoid unnecessary removal of protected trees.
(2) The required drainage and grading plan, including storm water management facilities, shall be developed in such a way as to avoid removal of protected trees in tree preservation areas, caused by risk of loss through change in grade or moisture.
(3) Proposed placement of all utility service lines shall be shown on the tree preservation plan. Every effort shall be made to protect existing protected trees during the placement of utility service lines including directional boring as opposed to open cutting as appropriate. A copy of the tree preservation plan and this subchapter shall be submitted at the preliminary plat stage by the applicant to the appropriate public utilities in order to alert said public utilities to the proposed placement of the utility service lines.
(4) Landscape planning shall include the preservation of existing healthy protected trees.
(5) Every effort shall be made during architectural and site engineering layout and design, including grading and utility placement, of the proposed development to preserve protected trees on adjacent parcels through sensitivity to the critical root zones of said protected trees. The critical root zones of protected trees on adjacent parcels shall be carefully reviewed and consideration given during the preparation of the tree preservation plan.
(Ord. 19-91. Passed 9-9-19.)