[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council
of the Borough of Denver 3-6-1989 by Ord. No. 434 (Ch.
25, Part 1 of the 1996 Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Shade Tree Commission — See Ch. 52.
A.Â
As used in this chapter, the present tense includes
the future; the singular number includes the plural, and the plural
includes the singular; and the masculine includes the feminine and
the neuter.
B.Â
BOROUGH
COMMISSION
COUNCIL
PERMIT
PERSON
SHADE TREE
Words and terms defined. Unless otherwise expressly
stated, the following words and phrases shall be construed throughout
this chapter to have the meanings indicated:
The Borough of Denver, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.
The Shade Tree Commission of the Borough of Denver.
Borough Council of the Borough of Denver.
A written form issued by the Secretary of the Commission
granting authority to perform specific work to shade trees.
Any natural person, firm, association, partnership, corporation
or any other legally recognized entity and the members of such partnership
and the officers of such corporation.
Any tree, shrub or other woody plant in or upon any public
right-of-way within the Borough or that part of any tree, shrub or
other woody plant which extends within the lines of any right-of-way
within the Borough.
No person shall plant, prune, trim or remove
any shade trees within the Borough without first making application
upon forms furnished by the Commission and receiving an approved permit.
Property owners shall be responsible to maintain
shade trees trimmed to a minimum height over streets and highways
to provide a clearance of 13 feet and to keep shade trees trimmed
overhanging a public sidewalk to provide a minimum clearance of eight
feet. The Commission shall have the authority to designate a higher
clearance where conditions make such clearance desirable. If a property
owner shall neglect or refuse to trim shade trees after receiving
written notification from the Commission to do so within a time specified
by the Commission, the Commission may thereafter cause such trimming
to be done at the expense of the property owner. The cost of such
trimming shall be billed to the property owner and upon failure or
refusal to pay, a municipal claim shall be filed against such premises.
No shade tree shall be planted without receiving
a permit from the Commission. In order to secure uniformity and successful
growth, the species and location of any shade tree shall be reviewed
by the Commission which shall determine whether such proposed tree
is suitable.
A.Â
No person shall, without first obtaining a permit
therefor:
(1)Â
Cut, break or injure in any manner any shade tree.
(2)Â
Cut or interfere in any way with the main roots of
any shade tree.
(3)Â
Place or plant any substance or material around the
base of a shade tree except heavy mulch, ornamental flowers or vegetative
ground cover such as ivy. Material or plantings at the base of a shade
tree shall not exceed 12 inches in height.
(4)Â
Place or secure any rope, guywire, cable, sign, poster
or any other fixture on any shade tree.
(5)Â
Cause or permit any saltwater, oil, dye or any other
substance deleterious to tree life to lie, leak or flow on or into
the soil about the base of any shade tree.
(6)Â
Fasten a horse or any other animal to stand so that
such horse or other animal can injure any shade tree.
B.Â
Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit
the proper watering, with clean water, to foster normal tree growth
or the proper spraying of approved fungicides and insecticides to
control disease and insect pests.
Before and during the erection or repair of
any building or structure or during other construction, the builder,
contractor or property owner shall erect or cause to be erected suitable
guards to protect the trunk and roots of any shade tree. Construction
materials shall not be placed or stored so as to impede the passage
of air and water to the roots of any shade tree within the construction
zone.
The Commission may, upon 10 days' written notice,
order the owner of property situated within the Borough to cut down
and remove any diseased shade tree which in the judgment of the Commission
threatens to infect and destroy adjacent healthy shade trees or which
shall endanger public safety or property within the Borough. Upon
failure of the property owner to comply with the order of the Commission
within the specified time, the Commission shall have the work done
and the property owner shall be billed the actual cost of the work.
If the property owner does not pay such bill, the cost shall be filed
as a municipal claim against the property.
A property owner shall have the right to appeal
any order of the Commission to Council. Any such appeal shall be filed
in writing. Council shall hold a hearing upon such appeal in accordance
with the provisions of the Local Agency Law, 2 Pa.C.S.A. § 551
et seq.
A.Â
The Commission shall have the authority to revoke
any permit issued to any person violating any of the provisions of
this chapter or of any order of the Commission and may require any
damage to be repaired or replaced by the property owner or cause the
same to be done at the expense of the property owner.
B.Â
Any person who shall violate the provisions of this
chapter shall, upon conviction thereof, be sentenced to pay a fine
of not more than $600 plus costs and, in default of payment thereof,
shall be subject to imprisonment for a term not to exceed 30 days.
Each violation occurring after written notification shall constitute
a separate offense punishable by like fine and penalty. Such fines
and penalties shall be collected as permitted by law. Upon summary
conviction, the person found guilty may be assessed reasonable attorneys’
fees incurred by the Borough in the enforcement proceedings in accordance
with Section 3321(6) of the Borough Code.[1]
[Amended 4-8-1996 by Ord. No. 475; 7-29-2013 by Ord. No.
612]
[1]
Editor’s Note: See 53 P.S. § 48321(6).
