[HISTORY:[1] Adopted by the Council of the City of Coatesville 3-26-2012 by Ord. No.
1379-2012. Amendments noted where applicable.]
It has been determined that in the City there are significant
problems regarding the maintenance of trees which have an impact on
the public and public rights-of-way, streets, roads, alleys, walkways,
etc., such that the trees on private property are not being properly
maintained, thereby creating a nuisance or danger to the public which
requires remedial legislation from the City.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
The City of Coatesville.
Anything that interferes with the use or enjoyment of property,
endangers personal health or safety or is offensive to the senses.
A permit, in writing, as issued by the Codes Director or
such other person or department as the City Manager shall designate.
Includes individuals, corporations, groups of individual,
firms, associates and their servants, agent or employees.
Any tree, street, avenue, boulevard, highway, sidewalk, alley
or similar place which is owned or controlled by any government entity.
Those shade or ornamental trees adjacent to the lawn or upon
the side of any street within the public right-of-way, street or alley,
any right-of-way intended for the general public use to provide means
of approach for vehicles and pedestrians.
Any tree, shrub, ornamental growth or woody plant grown in
or upon any public street, highway, avenue, park, sidewalk or other
public area or that part of any tree, shrub, ornamental growth or
woody plant which extends within the lines of any public street, highway,
avenue, park, parkway, sidewalk or other public area in the City of
Coatesville.
All trees shall be kept trimmed by the property owner of the
property on which any tree is located so that the minimum clearance
of any overhang over any public walk shall be at least 10 feet, and
the minimum clearance of any branches over any public street or highway
shall be at least 15 feet. However, the City reserves the right to
designate a higher clearance on certain streets or highways where
heavy traffic or other conditions make it appropriate, said clearances
to be established by resolution of City Council, which such resolution
shall be attached and made an "Addendum to this Code" without the
enactment of an ordinance. All trees standing on private property
and having branches projecting over a public walk, street or highway
shall be kept trimmed by the owner of such property so that the lowest
branches shall have the minimum clearance specified above or such
clearance as may be specified by the City.
In the event that the owner of such property shall neglect or
refuse to trim such tree upon notification, in writing, by the City
to do so, the City may, after the expiration of the date specified
in said notification, cause such trimming to be done at the expense
of the owner, and the entire cost thereof shall be a lien upon said
premises and shall be filed and collected by the City in the same
manner as municipal claims are filed and collected. Notice shall be
sent by any of the following: certified mail, regular mail or posting
of the property. In emergency circumstances, the notice identified
above may require immediate action by the property owner. Except for
such emergency situations, at least 10 days' notice is required
before action to trim a tree may be undertaken as noted previously.
All trees which are dead or decayed to such an extent that they become a public nuisance or threaten the health, safety and welfare of the public shall be removed by the owner of the property upon which such trees exist. Notice shall be given by the City in the manner identified in § 79-4 above relative to tree trimming.
In the event that such property owner fails to remove the offending tree within 30 days after written notice from the City to do so (notice to be provided in the same manner as is provided with respect to tree trimming in § 79-4 above), then the City may remove the tree, and the entire cost of removal shall be assessed and collected from the property owner, filed and collected by the City in the same manner as municipal claims are filed and collected. The City's cost of removal shall be a lien upon the property until such cost is paid.
No tree shall be planted closer than 35 feet to any street corner,
measured from the point of nearest intersecting curbs or curblines.
No tree shall be planted closer than 10 feet to any fireplug.
Any tree planted in violation of § 79-7 above shall be removed by the property owner after notice from the City in the same manner as is provided in § 79-4 (regarding notice with respect to tree trimming). The failure to remove such a tree as identified previously shall permit the City to have the tree removed and to charge the entire cost of tree removal assessed and collected from the property owner. The City's cost of removal shall be a lien upon the property until such cost is paid, filed and collected by the City in the same manner as municipal claims are filed and collected.
A.
Permits required. It shall be unlawful for any person to plant, prune,
remove or cut above the ground any public tree in the City without
first securing a permit therefor as hereinafter provided. All applicants
for permits to work on public trees shall perform such work in full
compliance with the City's Rules and Regulations, adopted by
City Council, and shall comply with all state and local liability
insurance requirements, workers' compensation and safety requirements.
B.
Application. Any person who shall desire to plant, prune, remove
or cut above the ground any public tree shall make application in
writing to the Codes Department or other department designated by
the City Manager. Such application shall be made on forms to be furnished
by the City and shall set forth the name of the applicant, the exact
location of the tree or trees and the approximate size of the tree
or trees and contain a plan for the proposed planting, pruning, removal
or cutting above the ground of trees.
C.
Fees. Before any permit shall be issued to any person to plant, prune,
remove or cut above the ground public trees, the person making such
application shall pay to the City such fee as shall be required by
a Schedule of Fees which shall be established and may be amended from
time to time by resolution of the City Council. The Schedule of Fees
shall be kept on file at the City.
D.
Right of review. The Codes Department or other department designated
by the City Manager shall have the right to refer any application
for a permit to City Council for its review when, in his/her judgment,
the project which is the subject of the application would have a negative
effect on the general health, safety and welfare.
E.
In the event of an emergency, it shall be unlawful for person(s)
to perform emergency work before securing a permit; provided, however,
that an application for a permit shall be made promptly and not later
than the next business day thereafter.
From time to time, the City may promulgate rules and regulations
governing the planting, maintenance, fertilization, pruning, bracing,
removal and ordering of trees, after such rules and regulations have
been approved by City Council. Copies of said rules and regulations
shall be furnished to any person making application hereunder.
Any person who violates or fails to comply with any of the provisions
of this chapter shall be liable, upon conviction thereof, to a fine
or penalty of not to exceed $600 and costs of prosecution and, in
default of payment of such fine and costs, to imprisonment for a period
of not more than 30 days, for each and every offense, and whenever
such person shall have been notified by the City by service or summons
in prosecution or by any other means that he is committing such violation,
each day which he shall continue such violation after any such notification
shall constitute a separate offense, punishable by like fine or penalty.
Such fines or penalties shall be collected as prescribed by law.
If any portion of this chapter shall be determined to be unconstitutional,
illegal or unenforceable, then the portion and only that portion of
this chapter, which is deemed to be unconstitutional, illegal or unenforceable
shall be severed from the remainder of this chapter and all other
terms thereof shall remain in full force and effect.
This chapter shall be effective 30 days after publication following
final adoption in accordance with the City Charter and the Third-Class
City Code.
