As used in this chapter, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
AREA OF DEVELOPMENT
The portion of a lot or tract which is not specifically excluded from development by any federal, state, county or municipal law or ordinance. For purposes of this chapter, those lands specifically eliminated from consideration as areas of development include, but are not limited to, wetlands as defined by N.J.S.A. 12:9B-1 et seq., and stream corridors as defined in §
180-2. The area of development shall include setback, yard and buffer areas as prescribed in the Subdivision or Zoning Ordinances, wetlands transition areas, and any areas covered by deed
restrictions or covenants.
[Amended 6-24-2002 by Ord. No. 2006-02]
CALIPER
Standard measure of tree size for trees to be newly planted.
The measurement is taken six inches above the ground level for trees
four inches in diameter or less and 12 inches above the ground for
trees over four inches in diameter.
CROWN
That portion of the tree comprised of branches.
DIAMETER AT BREAST HEIGHT (DBH)
Diameter of a tree measured 4 1/2 feet or 42 inches
(forestry method) above the ground level on the downhill side for
existing trees. Diameter at breast height may appear as the abbreviation
"DBH."
[Amended 4-23-2018 by Ord. No. 3-2018]
DRIPLINE
A limiting line established on the ground by a series of
perpendicular drop points marking the maximum radius of the crown
of an existing tree, but not less than six feet from the trunk, whichever
is greater.
MINIMIZE
To reduce to the smallest extent possible, given the allowed
development. Minimize does not mean to "eliminate" but rather that
the most substantial efforts possible under the circumstances have
been taken to reduce the adverse effect of the proposed action (such
as grading, clearing, building, etc.).
MULTISTEM TREES
Trees having two or more main stems arising from the roots
or main trunk not more than six inches above the ground level. Measurement
of multistem trees shall be the average DBH of all stems.
PERFORMANCE BOND
A sum paid by a person seeking to plant, maintain, remove
or replace trees to guarantee that said person will perform the work
in accordance with the permit and related documentation.
[Added 4-23-2018 by Ord.
No. 3-2018]
PRESERVATION AREA
The area surrounding a Township tree, wherein its roots grow;
generally, encompassing the area beneath its crown and such area whose
regulation is necessary and appropriate to the health and maintenance
of the tree.
[Added 4-23-2018 by Ord.
No. 3-2018]
PRIVATELY OWNED TREE
Any tree located on privately owned property as designated
on a map or plan filed with the Burlington County Clerk's office
or on the Official Tax Map of the Township of Moorestown.
[Added 4-23-2018 by Ord.
No. 3-2018]
REPLACEMENT TREE
A nursery-grown certified tree, properly balled, marked with
a durable label indicating genus, species and variety, and satisfying
the standards established for nursery stock and installation thereof,
set forth by the American Association of Nurseryman (AAN).
TOWNSHIP PROPERTY
Lands which are owned by the Township of Moorestown or are
within the right-of-way (ROW) of the Township's streets, highways
(especially the area between the curbing and sidewalk), open space
or under the control of the Township of Moorestown.
[Added 4-23-2018 by Ord.
No. 3-2018]
TOWNSHIP TREE
Any tree situated on Township property or within the right-of-way
as designated on a map or plan filed with the Burlington County Clerk's
office or on the Official Tax Map of the Township of Moorestown.
[Added 4-23-2018 by Ord.
No. 3-2018]
TREE
Any self-supporting woody plant which reaches a typical minimum
height of 12 feet or more at maturity with a distinct trunk and crown.
TREE BANK
The account for funds collected from an applicant in lieu
of planting replacement trees. This fund has been established by the
Township for administering, protecting, preserving, maintaining and
replacing trees and encouraging best preservation practices as may
be consistent with the Act and Community Stewardship Incentive Program
as outlined in N.J.S.A. 13:1L-17.1.
[Amended 4-23-2018 by Ord. No. 3-2018]
TREE CANOPY AREA
The ground area encompassed to the dripline of trees, tree
masses or woodlands.
TREE COMMITTEE
The Moorestown Tree Planting and Preservation Committee.
[Added 4-23-2018 by Ord.
No. 3-2018]
TREE MASS
A grouping of three or more trees whose canopies intertwine.
TREE REPLACEMENT ASSESSMENT
The amount paid by a person who removes, damages or destroys a Township tree without approval. (See §
160-6E.)
[Added 4-23-2018 by Ord.
No. 3-2018]
TRUNK
That portion of a stem or stems of a tree before branching.
TRUNK FLARE
The point of intersection between the tree roots and the
tree trunk.
[Added 4-23-2018 by Ord.
No. 3-2018]
WOODLAND
A plant community dominated by trees and other woody plants
covering at least 10,000 square feet and containing a minimum of 100
trees with at least 50% of those trees having a two-inch DBH or greater.
[Added 4-23-2018 by Ord.
No. 3-2018]
A. No person, firm or corporation shall do, or cause to be done, any
of the following acts with regard to Township trees without authorization
obtained pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.
(1)
Cut, girdle, climb with spikes, disturb the roots of or otherwise
injure, or remove any living Township tree; or injure, misuse or remove
any structure or device placed to support or protect a Township tree.
(2)
Fasten any rope, wire, electrical attachment, sign or other
device to a Township tree.
(3)
Close or obstruct the preservation area around the base of any
Township tree, including, but not limited to, excessive amounts of
or improperly applied mulch.
(4)
Close or obstruct Township property so as to prevent the planting
of a Township tree if the Township property otherwise would be appropriate
for such planting.
B. The Township of Moorestown Department of Public Works or other Township designee may issue a stop-work order for any of the above prohibitions. The order shall remain in effect until the Township issues a permit for said work. Exemptions to these prohibitions are covered in §
160-11.
[Added 4-23-2018 by Ord.
No. 3-2018]
In case of emergencies, such as hurricanes, fire, windstorm,
ice storm, flood, freezing temperatures or other disaster, or in the
case of dead or diseased trees that pose an imminent threat to the
safety of persons or property, the requirements of the regulations
set forth in this chapter may be waived by the Department of Public
Works or its designee upon determining that such waiver is necessary
to remove the threat in order to protect public health and safety.
[Amended 4-23-2018 by Ord. No. 3-2018]
A. Trees on property that require land development approval: Table 1.
The number of replacement trees shown below are for trees on property
that require land development approval for which a permit has been
issued.
DBH of Removed Tree
(inches)
|
Number of Replacements
|
---|
12 to 18
|
1
|
Greater than 18 to 24
|
2
|
Greater than 24 to 30
|
3
|
Greater than 30 to 36
|
4
|
Greater than 36 to 40
|
5
|
Greater than 40
|
7
|
B. Township trees: Table 2. The number of replacement trees shown below
are for Township trees for which a permit has been issued. Due to
the added benefits to the community as a whole, a smaller DBH range
for Township trees is reasonable and necessary.
DBH Range
(inches)
|
Number of Replacements
|
---|
2.5 to 5
|
1
|
6 to 12
|
2
|
13 to 18
|
3
|
19 to 24
|
4
|
25 to 36
|
5
|
37 to 45
|
6
|
46 or more
|
7
|
C. Replacement trees shall be nursery grown and comply with the AAN
standards for nursery stock. Caliper shall be 1.75 inches to 2.5 inches.
D. Replacement trees may used anywhere on site, unless explicitly prohibited by law. However, the provisions of this chapter do not supersede an applicant's responsibility(ies) for street trees, as set forth and required under §
158-26B and
C. The following may be considered as replacement trees, subject to approval by the Department of Public Works or its designee:
(1) Trees planted to meet requirements of other provisions (e.g., in
buffer areas) of the Code of the Township of Moorestown.
(2) Trees planted as part of a reforestation plan for previously cleared
areas of the site.
(3) Trees planted in a bioretention stormwater management basin.
E. If the required replacement trees cannot be planted on the site because of practical physical difficulties or environmental constraints, a fee in lieu of tree replacement may be contributed into the tree bank in accordance with §
160-8B.
Existing trees and shrubs on a site may be transplanted
and used to fulfill other planting requirements such as buffers or
street trees, if the following requirements are met:
A. The tree or shrub meets the minimum standards required
for that particular landscape requirement.
B. The tree or shrub conforms to the minimum requirements
for that species as outlined in the AAN standards for nursery stock.
C. The tree or shrub will be transplanted when dormant
if deciduous, or during the spring for evergreens, and shall be replanted
and thoroughly watered within 24 hours of digging.
D. A performance guarantee shall be submitted to guarantee
survival of the transplanted material for three full growing seasons.
E. All planting, transplanting, or any action affecting a Township tree,
after obtaining the appropriate permit, shall meet and comply with
the following standards:
[Added 4-23-2018 by Ord.
No. 3-2018]
(1) All nursery stock used for planting on Township property shall comply
with ANSI Z-60.1, as amended, American Standard for Nursery Stock.
(2) All Township tree transplanting shall comply with ANSI A300 (Part
6) 2012, Planting and Transplanting.
(3) All Township tree trimming shall conform to ANSI A300 (Part I) 2008,
Pruning.
[Amended 4-23-2018 by Ord. No. 3-2018]
A. All required replacement trees shall be planted on the site from
which the trees were removed. Relief from any portion or all of the
on-site tree replacement requirement may be granted by the Department
of Public Works or its designee. Any relief shall be based upon practical
physical difficulties, environmental constraints, and undue hardship
related to conditions of the site from which the trees are to be removed.
The Department of Public Works or its designee shall solicit the comments
and recommendations of the Township Engineer and landscape consultant
in determining whether the relief requested by the applicant should
be granted.
B. In lieu of planting replacement trees, the applicant may be permitted to make a monetary contribution to the tree bank. The amount of the contribution shall be $350 for each tree required for each replacement tree in accordance with §
160-6, Tables 1 and 2, herein, and shall be submitted to the Department of Public
Works or its designee prior to cutting any trees or the issuance of
a zoning permit, whichever occurs first.
C. The cost of replacement trees shall not exceed 5% of the project
cost (including but not limited to buildings, structures and site
improvements), as determined by the Township Engineer. For determining
the cost of replacement trees, the actual replacement cost or $350
per tree, whichever is less, shall be used. All costs shall be adjusted
every three years after in accordance with the federally regulated
cost of living index.
D. All funds collected from an applicant as a contribution in lieu of
replanting trees shall be deposited in a dedicated account clearly
designated as the Moorestown Township tree Bank. All funds so deposited
shall be used exclusively for the planting or maintenance of trees.
This bank may be used to plant trees on public property and rights-of-way,
including but not limited to public parks, public schools and public
buildings. A quarterly report, detailing the expenditure of any of
the funds, shall be submitted to the Township Council by the Chief
Financial Officer.
[Added 4-23-2018 by Ord.
No. 3-2018]
A. An administrative fee of $25 will be required upon issuance of a
permit for the above approvals.
B. All fees collected for tree assessment replacement will be collected
by the Department of Public Works or its designee, deposited into
the Tree Bank account and maintained by the Township Finance office.
The following shall be exempt from this chapter
A. All lot owners, on properties that require land development approval,
may remove two significant privately owned trees per year per acre
of the lot.
[Amended 6-24-2002 by Ord. No. 2006-02; 4-23-2018 by Ord. No. 3-2018]
B. Lots containing single-family or two-family dwellings
and vacant lots zoned for same, where the lot area is less than twice
the required minimum lot area for the zone in which the lot is located.
C. Trees directed to be removed by municipal, county,
state or federal authority pursuant to law.
D. Removal of trees which are dead, dying or diseased,
trees which have suffered damage or any tree whose angle of growth
makes it a hazard to structures, roads or human life.
E. Removal of trees which are causing structural damage to buildings,
foundations of structures, or public water and/or sewer infrastructure.
[Amended 4-23-2018 by Ord. No. 3-2018]
F. Pruning of or removal of trees within the right-of-way by utility
companies for maintenance of utility wires or pipelines, the pruning
of trees within sight easements, and Township trees which are obstructing
the sidewalk.
[Amended 4-23-2018 by Ord. No. 3-2018]
G. Developments that have received preliminary or final
approval within three years prior to the effective date of this chapter,
unless a substantial change in the development occurs requiring a
revised preliminary approval.
H. Tree nurseries, orchards and properties with a state-approved
forest management plan.