[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Village
of Old Field 11-10-2009 by L.L. No. 3-2009. Amendments noted where
applicable.]
A.
The Board of Trustees of the Incorporated Village of Old Field hereby
finds that there is a direct relationship between the preservation
of and the planting of trees and vegetation in sufficient number in
populated areas of the Village and the health, safety and welfare
of Village residents and that trees are related to the natural, scenic
and aesthetic values and the physical and visual qualities of the
environment which the Village is obligated to protect. Trees reduce
noise, provide welcome shade and privacy to Village residents, preserve
the balance of oxygen in the air by removing carbon dioxide and fostering
air quality and create a bucolic and rural atmosphere in the Village,
especially along the roads. Vegetation also stabilizes the soil and
controls water pollution by preventing soil erosion and flooding,
yields advantageous climatic effects and provides a natural habitat
for wildlife.
B.
The destructive and indiscriminate removal of trees and other woody
vegetation causes increased Village costs for proper drainage control,
impairs the benefits of occupancy of existing residential properties,
impairs the stability and value of both improved and unimproved real
property in the area of the destruction and adversely affects the
health, safety and general welfare of the residents of the Incorporated
Village of Old Field.
For purposes of this chapter, the following terms, phrases and
words shall have the following meanings:
The owner, contract vendee or lessee of real property or
his duly authorized agent.
Any real property on which a residential structure, clubhouse
or other place of public assembly has been erected.
A woody perennial plant having a single, usually elongate
main stem, generally with few or no branches on its lower part, and
having a sufficient size depending on the following three categories
of trees: canopy, understory or evergreen.
Canopy trees (e.g., Acer rubrum, Fagus grandifolia, Tilia, Liriodendron,
Quercus) have a trunk circumference of 20 inches or greater measured
at a point four feet six inches above ground level, except in the
case where a tree has been removed without benefit of a permit, in
which case the trunk circumference shall be measured at the highest
point remaining at or above ground level.
Understory trees (e.g., Cornus florida, Cercis, Carpinus, Nyssa)
have a trunk circumference of 10 inches or greater measured at a point
four feet six inches above ground level, except in the case where
a tree has been removed without benefit of a permit, in which case
the trunk circumference shall be measured at the highest point remaining
at or above ground level.
Evergreen trees (e.g., Juniperus virginiana, Ilex opaca, Pinus
strobus) have a height of 10 feet or greater.
Any resident of Old Field or any individual firm, partnership,
association, corporation, company, public agency, public utility or
organization of any kind or agent thereof.
Includes all unimproved and improved real property within
the Incorporated Village of Old Field.
Any cutting or drastic pruning of a mature tree which impairs,
destroys or endangers the life of such tree or its natural symmetry
and shall include but shall not be limited to heavy or unnecessary
cutting of top branches and cutting of major lower limbs.
Any cutting or drastic pruning of brush or woody vegetation
on a property which alters the runoff pattern of stormwater, or impairs,
destroys or endangers the life of such brush or vegetation or its
role as natural habitat.
Any real property on which no residential structure, clubhouse
or other place of public assembly has been erected.
A.
Permit for substantial alteration or removal of mature trees. It
shall be unlawful for any person to remove, destroy or substantially
alter or to cause the removal, destruction or substantial alteration
of any mature tree located on any real property within the Village
of Old Field without a permit.
B.
Permit for substantial clearing. It shall be unlawful for any person
to perform a substantial clearing of brush or woody vegetation on
any real property located within the Village of Old Field without
a permit.
C.
The foregoing provisions of this section shall not apply to:
(1)
Horticultural pruning done pursuant to customarily accepted ornamental
or therapeutic practice, which does not substantially alter the habitat
of the tree.
(2)
Any emergency situation in which the removal, destruction or substantial
alteration of any tree is necessary to prevent imminent danger to
human life or property.
(3)
The removal of a dead tree pursuant to Chapter 80, Article II, of the Code of the Village of Old Field.
(4)
Approved removal of invasive species.
(5)
The removal of any trees, brush or woody vegetation not located within
any required setback or buffer area and located within the following
distance of a structure's foundation, existing or proposed:
(6)
The removal or substantial alteration of any tree or substantial
clearing of brush or woody vegetation required for the maintenance
of any road or utility right-of-way or easement.
A.
Application for a permit shall be made to the Board of Trustees.
C.
A sketch or plan of the area indicating the following may be required
by the Board of Trustees when deemed necessary to carry out the provisions
of this chapter:
(1)
An outline of existing heavily wooded areas on the site, showing
the tree type and range of sizes.
(2)
The location and size of trees to be removed and the perimeter of
areas which are not to be disturbed by tree cutting, clearing or alterations.
(3)
The location of any improvements on the real property.
(4)
Any additional information that the Board of Trustees may reasonably
deem necessary for evaluation of the application, except that no new
survey of the property or survey location of trees may be required
unless there is controversy as to whether a tree is located on the
property.
D.
The decision of the Board of Trustees shall be based upon the following
criteria:
(1)
The condition of the tree with respect to public safety, disease
and danger of falling, proximity to existing or proposed structures
and interference with utility services or intended use of the land.
(2)
The necessity of the removal or alteration of the tree in question.
(3)
The effect of the removal or alteration thereof on the ecosystem
and possible presence of protected habitat.
(4)
The character established at the proposed site of removal or alteration
with respect to existing vegetation management practices.
(5)
The impact of any removal or alteration upon existing screening of
any contiguous properties or any road or highway bordering the property.
(6)
The applicant's intention to replant trees and revegetate the
property.
(7)
The applicant's payment of a monetary fee to mitigate for the
lost vegetation in lieu of replacing the tree(s) or replanting the
equivalent area of vegetation that is cleared on the property. Such
fees shall be deposited into a trust fund to be used by the Village
exclusively for the planting of trees and other vegetation on public
property within the Village.
E.
No permit shall be issued until such time as the Environmental Conservation
Commission has made a recommendation to the Board of Trustees with
regard to the application.
The fee for any permit required under this chapter shall be
established, and amended from time to time, by resolution of the Board
of Trustees.
The Board of Trustees may require the planting of the same or
an agreed-upon alternative species of trees which are as nearly comparable
in type and size as practical to the trees to be removed, when the
individual character of the trees or the ecological setting requires
special consideration as a condition for the issuance of a permit
for removal. The quantity, size, species and location of replacement
trees shall be based on the recommendation of the Environmental Conservation
Commission.
Any person who shall violate any of the provisions of this chapter
shall be deemed guilty of a violation and, upon conviction thereof,
shall be subject to a fine of not more than $1,000 for each tree unlawfully
removed, destroyed or substantially altered without a permit, and
a fine of not more than $1,000 for any other violation under this
chapter. Each such violation shall constitute a separate offense and
shall be punishable as such hereunder.
Nothing herein contained shall abridge or alter any rights or
remedies now or hereinafter existing, nor shall this chapter nor any
provisions thereof nor any rule or regulation promulgated thereunder
be construed as estopping the Village of Old Field from exercising
its right and fulfilling its obligations to protect the public health
and welfare. In addition to all other remedies available to the Village,
this chapter shall be enforceable by injunction in an action brought
in the Supreme Court.
