[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of Thornbury 11-16-2010 by Ord. No. 2010-3.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Property maintenance — See Ch. 93.
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also superseded former Ch. 129, Trees, adopted by Res. No. 1990-8.
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Thornbury Township Tree-Clearing Ordinance."
The purpose of this chapter is to control and regulate the indiscriminate or excessive removal of trees on public and private property and the destruction of wooded areas, and to control, regulate, and prevent conditions which cause an unwarranted increase in stormwater run-off, sedimentation, soil erosion, loss of wildlife habitat, air, noise and water pollution, or inhibit stormwater ground recharge.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
CLEARING PERMIT
A permit issued by the Township for the removal of 10 or more trees with a diameter of eight inches or greater pursuant to the provision of this chapter.
PERSON
A natural person, but also includes a business, organization, partnership or corporation.
PROTECTED TREE
A tree with a DBH (diameter at breast height - measured at 4.5 feet above the surface of the natural grade) of eight inches or more.
REMOVE
To cut, remove, destroy, chop or to perform any act of tree pruning or thinning, equipment operation, soil compaction or materials storage, soil removal, or paving that results in the destruction of the tree.
SHRUB
Any woody, perennial plant smaller than a tree, usually having permanent stems branching from or near the ground.
SITE
A lot, tract or parcel of land, or a series of lots, tracts or parcels of land joined together, where clearing is continuous and performed at the same time.
All clearing or tree removal in Thornbury Township shall conform to the provisions of this chapter, except that this chapter shall not apply to such work in a public right-of-way or in a Township park, playground or recreation area or on other public property.
No person shall remove 10 or more protected trees in Township of Thornbury, Chester County, without previously obtaining a tree-clearing permit.
No person shall commence or perform any tree clearing without first having obtained a clearing permit from the Township.
A. 
A permit shall not be required to remove protected trees when:
(1) 
The removal or clearing is on property subject to an approved forestry, agricultural, or tree nursery use. Anyone conducting an approved forestry or timbering use, however, must present to the Township a forestry or timbering management plan that describes how the use will be conducted in accordance with the current best industry practices.
(2) 
When clearing of trees is necessary in connection with construction of an approved land development, subdivision, or building permit. This includes approved driveways and septic systems.
B. 
The following trees shall not be considered protected trees:
(1) 
A tree in such condition that it poses imminent danger to the public health, safety and welfare or to an existing structure.
(2) 
A tree that is diseased, dead, or dying due to natural causes, such as storms; provided, however:
(a) 
The person desiring the removal or clearing is the owner of the property on which the protected tree is located; and
(b) 
Said person provides prior notification of the proposed clearing or removal to the Township or provides a certification from a licensed landscape architect or arborist that the tree was dead, diseased, or dying due to natural causes, and its removal was therefore appropriate.
(3) 
A tree required to be removed in order to install or maintain public utilities (such as electricity, telephone, water and sewer lines).
(4) 
A tree in the required vehicle sightline and removal is necessary to facilitate public safety.
A. 
Every applicant for a clearing permit shall file a written application with the Township.
B. 
The applicant shall provide the following information in conjunction with the application for a tree removal permit:
(1) 
A plan prepared by a registered engineer or surveyor in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, which shall include:
(a) 
A contour map showing the present contours of the land.
(b) 
A plot plan showing the location of the clearing, boundaries, lot lines, neighboring streets and alleys, buildings, all trees over six inches in diameter two feet above the ground and sufficient dimensions and other data to show the location of all work.
(c) 
Description of the type and classification of the soil.
(d) 
Details and location of any required silt fence or other erosion-control techniques.
(2) 
A tree preservation plan that includes:
(a) 
The location, species and caliper of all trees to be removed on the surveyed drawing.
(b) 
The location of existing and proposed structures, driveways, etc.
(c) 
Proposed grading.
(d) 
Proposed preservation/protection measures applicable to the trees to remain undisturbed.
(e) 
The location of replacement trees, including a replacement schedule indicating species, quantities and size in accordance with the standards set forth in § 129-8.
(f) 
The location of any environmentally sensitive areas, such as wetlands, flood hazard areas, streams, and steep slopes.
(3) 
The estimated dates for the start and completion of the clearing work.
(4) 
The purpose for which the clearing is being conducted.
C. 
The Township Engineer may waive any of the specific plan requirements listed above if he finds that the information on the application is sufficient to show that the clearing will conform to the provisions of this chapter.
A. 
When 10 or more protected trees are removed or cleared, the property owner must provide replacement trees on a one-to-one caliper basis. For example, if a thirty-inch-caliper tree is removed, the owner must replace it with trees that have a combined caliper of 30 inches. Replacement trees must comply with the following:
(1) 
The trees must have at least a 1 1/2 inch caliper measured at breast height.
(2) 
The proposed species must be similar in nature to the trees being removed unless the removed or cleared tree is considered an invasive species. The Township's Engineer or Landscape Architect will have final determination of the appropriateness of the proposed species.
(3) 
The trees must be planted in accordance with the industry's latest best practices.
B. 
If it is not feasible to plant the required replacement trees on the site, with the approval of the Township Board of Supervisors, the applicant may pay a fee in lieu of the replacement trees to the Township. The fee will be deposited in the Township's Tree Fund and may only be used for planting new trees, or maintenance work that facilitates healthy tree growth. The fee will be based on the current market price of each tree plus the estimated cost to plant, multiplied by 1.2 to cover the maintenance and administrative cost of planting the trees in another location.
C. 
Exemption from tree replacement. The tree replacement requirement may be waived by the Board of Supervisors if the proposed tree removal is proposed by the owner of a single residential lot that contains an existing dwelling.
Before issuing a clearing permit, a permit fee shall be collected as follows:
Number of Protected Trees To Be Cleared
Permit Fee*
(per tree)
10 or more
$35
*NOTE: The permit fee will cover a maximum of two reviews and two inspections. The cost of any additional reviews or inspections will be billed to the applicant at the actual cost of the Township.
Every clearing permit shall expire by limitation and become null and void if the work authorized by such permit has not been commenced within six months or, if commenced, is not completed with one year from the date of issue, provided that the Township Engineer may, if the permit holder presents satisfactory evidence that unusual circumstances have prevented work from being started or completed within the specified time limits, grant a reasonable extension of time, and provided further that the application for the extension of time is made before the date of expiration of the permit.
A. 
By the filing of the application, the owner consents to an inspection of the property by the Township's designee. Following an inspection of the property on which removal or clearing is proposed, the Township official shall approve or deny the application, in whole or in part, with or without conditions. In his/her evaluation of the application, the following factors shall be considered:
(1) 
Adverse impact of the proposed removal or clearing upon quality and quantity of stormwater run-off;
(2) 
Increase in air, noise or water pollution from the proposed removal or clearing;
(3) 
Loss of wildlife habitat from proposed removal or clearing;
(4) 
Increase in soil erosion and sedimentation from the proposed removal or clearing;
(5) 
Inhibition of stormwater ground recharge from the proposed removal or clearing;
(6) 
Adverse impact upon growth and development of remaining vegetation on the property and upon neighboring properties;
(7) 
Whether the applicant's purpose in applying for tree removal or clearing can reasonably be achieved without the proposed tree removal or clearing;
(8) 
Whether a public purpose is furthered by the proposed removal or clearing; and
(9) 
Whether the proposed free clearing or removal and/or replacement further the goals and objectives of the Township's Comprehensive Plan.
The Board of Supervisors shall promptly consider any appeal from the provisions of this chapter or from the determinations of the Township Engineer, and the Board may make determinations of alternate methods, standards or materials when, in its opinion, strict compliance with the provisions of this chapter is unduly burdensome or unnecessary. Any applicant or permit holder shall have the right to appeal to the Court of Common Pleas within 30 days from any decision or determination of the Board of Supervisors.
A. 
Plans for the clearing work shall be approved by the Township Engineer and shall be maintained at the site during the progress of the clearing work and until the work has been completed.
B. 
The permit holder shall notify the Township Engineer in order to obtain a final inspection when all work, including the installation of all drainage and other structures, has been completed.
A. 
No person shall conduct any removal or clearing or cause the same to be done contrary to or in violation of any provision of this chapter.
B. 
When written notice of a violation of any of the provisions of this chapter has been served by the Township on any person, all tree removal shall be immediately discontinued.
C. 
Any person who removes trees without having first obtained a permit, or does so in violation of any condition of such a permit, shall replace the removed trees on the property at a one-to-one caliper ratio. For example, if a thirty-inch-caliper tree is removed, trees having a combined diameter of 30 inches shall be planted in its place. All replacement trees must comply with the provisions of § 129-8.
D. 
In addition, a fine in an amount equal to the corresponding application fee multiplied by a factor of 2.5 shall be assessed against the person violating this chapter. In the event such tree replacement trees can not reasonably be accomplished on the property where the removal or clearing occurred, according to the Township Engineer, the person who caused the violation may deposit a sum equivalent to the combined cost of the corresponding application fee and the estimated cost of replacing the frees, including the cost of associated earthwork, multiplied by a factor of 2.5.
E. 
The Township may in addition to any other remedy enforce any provision of this chapter. The Township, if successful, shall be entitled to an award, as part of the costs, of all counsel fees incurred as a result of the violation.
F. 
Any person violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall be subject to a penalty not to exceed $1,000 for each violation of this chapter. Each tree removed in violation of the provisions of this chapter shall constitute a separate violation.