Within the areas of the scope of this chapter as set forth in § 104-3, no person shall disturb any natural feature within Newtown Township identified in this article except in compliance with §§ 104-6 and 104-7. In assessing compliance with §§ 104-6 and 104-7, the Township may take into account the extent to which the property owner is taking other remedial or compensatory actions which would fulfill the same basic intent as to the conservation standards.
A.
B.
Preservation of woodlands and other vegetation. Except in conjunction
with routine property maintenance, disturbance to the following shall
be minimized:
(1)
Healthy, well-stocked woodlands. In instances where disturbance or
tree cutting is unavoidable or considered desirable in accordance
with sound forest management practice, an effort shall be made, with
consultation from a qualified professional, to retain as much of the
woodland of a size and configuration which would promote its growth
and natural regeneration.
(2)
Vegetation, other than woodlands, providing wildlife food and cover
or visual amenity. This may include, but not necessarily be limited
to, single or groups of specimen trees, hedgerows and other vegetation
not considered as woodland.
A.
Protection of vegetation from mechanical injury and grading change.
(1)
All trees to be retained within 25 feet of a building, parking or
other proposed improvement shall be protected during construction
from equipment damage by snow fencing or other effective barriers.
(2)
Heavy equipment operators shall exercise caution in the operation
of such equipment so as to minimize damage to trees.
(3)
Tree trunks and tree roots damaged during construction shall be treated
to salvage these plants. Bark damage shall be scar traced back to
healthy tissue to promote proper healing. Root damage shall be treated
by cutting back damaged areas to sound tissue and backfilling soil
over the root system. Should an extensive portion of the root system
require removal, a comparable amount of branching shall be removed
to balance the effect of the root removal.
(4)
Trees shall not be used to secure or support cables, ropes, signs,
fencing or other objects.
(5)
The area beneath the tree branching and over the root system within
the dripline shall remain undisturbed. Equipment storage, material
storage, debris and fill material shall not be permitted within the
area of the dripline, unless approved by the Township.
(6)
All grade changes shall reflect proper surface water drainage so
as not to adversely affect vegetative growth or cause other possible
damage.
B.
Protection of vegetation from excavations.
(1)
When digging trenches for utility lines or similar uses, disturbance
to the root zones of all woody vegetation shall be minimized.
(2)
If trenches must be excavated in the root zone, all disturbed roots
shall be cut back to healthy tissue and the trench backfilled as soon
as possible. The branching of trees with damaged root systems shall
be trimmed and thinned out to balance the removal of damaged roots.
C.
Protection of topsoil.
(1)
Topsoil shall be stripped and stockpiled from all areas of construction.
No topsoil shall be removed from a site unless a sufficient quantity
is retained to provide at least six inches of topsoil cover over all
of the disturbed surfaces of the site.
(2)
Topsoil removed by grading operations shall be redistributed and
stabilized as soon as possible following the completion of a phase
of work or the entire project. All exposed earth surfaces shall be
stabilized by the following methods or approved equal:
(3)
Grading and earthmoving operations shall be scheduled so as to minimize
site disturbance during the period when the soil is frozen.
