The Township Council of the Township of Delran finds that the indiscriminate,
uncontrolled and excessive destruction, removal and cutting of trees within
the Township has or will destroy a valuable ecological resource that is virtually
irreplaceable and that must be protected and preserved; that such indiscriminate
destruction or removal not only affects the aesthetic qualities of life within
the Township, but also produces a marked impact upon the atmosphere, soil
erosion and fertility of the soil, the deterioration of which conditions will
adversely affect the health, safety and general welfare of the inhabitants
of the Township, both now and in the future.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
SLASH
Loose tops, branches and foliage of trees which have become detached
from the tree as a result of logging, high wind, etc.
TREE
A perennial woody living plant having one or more self-supporting
trunks, such trunk having a diameter greater than three inches measured at
a point three feet from ground level.
No person shall cut or remove any tree upon any lands within the Township,
unless such cutting or removal is done in accordance with the requirements
of this chapter or is exempt under this chapter.
The following situations regarding the cutting and removal of trees
are exempt from the provisions of this chapter:
A. The cutting or removal of trees by the owner of the property
or a member of his or her family for use as firewood, for their own use and
not for resale.
B. The cutting or removal of any dead or diseased tree that
is likely to endanger the public, the property in question or the adjacent
property.
C. Any tree growing on property actually being used as a
nursery, garden center, Christmas tree plantation or orchard.
D. Any tree growing on a public right-of-way as shown on
an approved final subdivision map.
E. Any tree cut or removed for landscaping purposes on an
already improved lot, or which is necessary for the construction of a building
for which a building permit has been issued.
F. Cutting or removal provided for under §
328-9.
The cutting and removal of trees shall be done in accordance with the
following standards:
A. All activity shall be carried out in a manner so as to
avoid damage to slopes, stream banks and beds, prevent erosion and prevent
degradation of water quality.
B. Only those trees which have been selected for harvesting
shall be cut. All trees shall be cut to the base. All practical steps shall
be taken to minimize damage to trees not designated for cutting.
C. At the conclusion of any harvesting operation, the following
shall be done:
(1) All areas disturbed for access, processing, moving or
loading of trees shall be regraded to approximate natural slopes.
(2) If required by the Township, all accessways shall be
closed and devices installed, such as poles, pilings or berms, that will preclude
use of the accessway.
(3) Bare ground areas shall be stabilized with vegetation
where necessary.
(4) All debris shall be removed.
(5) All nonvegetative refuse shall be collected and removed.
(6) All hanging trees shall be removed.
D. Harvesting and reforestation activities shall ensure
the regeneration of the harvested forest.
No chain saws are to be used in the cutting and removal of trees, whether
under a permit granted pursuant to this chapter or whether such activity is
exempt from the permit requirements of this chapter, prior to 7:00 a.m. local
time, Monday through Saturday, or 12:00 noon on Sundays, nor shall they be
used after sunset.
[Amended by Ord. No. 2002-8]
No person or entity shall plant or replant a tree within the land situate
between a curb and sidewalk. In the event that there is an installed curb
but no sidewalk, no tree shall be planted or replanted within 10 feet of the
curbline.