[Ord. No. 2021-1953A, 7-20-2021]
A. Intent. The purpose of this Chapter is to:
1. Aid with erosion and storm water control;
3. Protect property values and prevent safety hazards; and
4. Maintain the goals of the Comprehensive Plan of the City of Frontenac.
B. Purpose. The purpose of this Article is to protect against the unnecessary
and arbitrary destruction and loss of trees and woodlands. Where such
loss is unavoidable these guidelines provide for replacement of trees
and woodlands.
[Ord. No. 2021-1953A, 7-20-2021]
The following words, terms, and phrases, when used in this Chapter,
shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this Section, except where
the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
CALIPER
The diameter of a tree trunk measured at six (6) inches above
the ground for trees having up to a four-inch caliper or twelve (12)
inches above the ground for trees having between a four-inch and twelve-inch
caliper. For trees with multiple stems, the caliper of each stem shall
be measured, and the average of all measurements shall constitute
the caliper of the tree.
CONDITION, EXISTING TREES
GOOD CONDITION — The tree shape and form is average to
excellent. The tree has a good main trunk. The branches may be crowded
with minor branch dieback. There are few, or minor, pests, good leaf
color and size, and no obvious root or structural problems.
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FAIR CONDITION — The tree needs pruning of live or dead
branches due to habitat, decline, or lack of maintenance. The tree
may have pest problems or minor trunk damage, poor branch angle or
multi-trunks. There are no obvious structural or hazardous conditions.
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POOR CONDITION — The tree has many dead branches, splitting
trunk, and/or hazardous branches with more than half of the crown
dead. The tree may be leaning, have structural problems, or extensive
damage from insects or disease.
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DEAD/DYING CONDITION — The tree has extensive branch dieback
or trunk decay, storm damaged branches, heavy pest problems, or already
dead and needing to be removed.
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CRITICAL ROOT ZONE (CRZ)
The zone around the trunk of a tree that contains the tree's
root structure and the space above ground within the tree's canopy
drip line or beyond. The CRZ shall be the greater of: (a) an area
surrounding the trunk having a radius of one and twenty-five hundredths
(1.25) feet for every one (1) inch of tree diameter breast height
(DBH) or caliper, whichever will result in the larger area, or (b)
the area determined by a qualified arborist or similar professional
to be the CRZ for a given tree in situ.
CROWN SPREAD
The average of two (2) perpendicular measurements of the
crown width in feet, taken at right angles or perpendicular to one
another, along the drip line of the tree.
DIAMETER AT BREAST HEIGHT (DBH)
The smallest trunk circumference measured in inches at the
point that is four and five-tenths (4.5) feet up from the ground or
mid-slope of the tree's base:
1.
If the tree forks, the point below the lowest fork is the DBH
point.
2.
Trees on a slope are measured up four and five-tenths (4.5)
feet along the axis of the trunk on the high and low sides; DBH point
is midway between the two (2) planes.
3.
Leaning trees are measured four and five-tenths (4.5) feet along
the top and undersides of the trunk; DBH point is the midway between
these two (2) planes.
4.
Portions such as low branches that do not form part of the tree's
crown, dead branches, forks and epicormic sprouts growing from the
trunk or branches, are disregarded for purposes of determining the
DBH point.
DRIP LINE
The outline on the ground of the outermost live leaves of
the crown of the tree.
GRAND TREE
A softwood tree (pines, cedars, firs, spruces, etc.) with a diameter at breast height (DBH) greater than or equal to twenty (20) inches or a hardwood tree (including oaks, hard maples, hickories, sycamores, elms, dogwoods, magnolias, etc.) with a diameter at breast height (DBH) greater than or equal to twenty-four (24) inches. Tree(s) not in good or fair condition, as defined herein, and trees that are invasive species as defined in Section
250.120 shall not be classified as grand trees. Notwithstanding the foregoing, grand trees shall not include box elder, silver maple, sweet gum, mulberry, green ash, mountain ash, black locust, poplar, cottonwood or willow trees.
HEIGHT
The vertical distance between the ground line and the tallest
part of the live crown measured in feet and rounded down to the nearest
whole number. The method used to determine this value is also to be
documented and may include: Direct measurement (telescoping pole,
climbing), clinometer, hypsometer, relascope, laser rangefinder (with
or without internal clinometer), stick method, pencil method, comparison
or wild guess.
INVASIVE SPECIES
A plant, fungus, including those specifically enumerated in Section
250.120, or animal species that is not native to a specific location (an introduce species), and which has a tendency to spread to a degree believed to cause damage to the environment, human economy, or human health.
LOT
A parcel of land that is a lot of record, but not including
any land described in or included in any easement for a street.
NOXIOUS WEED
Any weed designated as noxious by rules promulgated by the Director of the Missouri Department of Agriculture, and including those expressly enumerated in Section
250.120.
TREE PROTECTION PLAN (TPP)
A drawing that graphically illustrates the existing trees
on the project site, adjacent to the site and in the right-of-way.
The TPP shall include graphic depictions of the Tree Protection Zones
(TPZ)/tree protection fence, Critical Root Zone (CRZ), and locations
of tree protection measures (such as root pruning, aeration, etc.)
to protect trees during construction or other site disruptions. A
written description of tree protection measures must also be included
with the drawing. Required elements of the TPP can be included on
the Landscape Plan or submitted as a separate plan.
TREE PROTECTION ZONE (TPZ)
The zone around a tree on the subject lot or any adjoining
lot that must be maintained at the original grade and original conditions
over the course of any construction activity. This zone is determined
by the Critical Root Zone (CRZ) location and must be no less than
the extent of the drip line. Tree protection fencing must be placed
at the perimeter of the TPZ. An arborist must determine what trees
can reasonably be saved and define what can be done before, during
and after construction in the arborist's report.
WOODLAND
An area of trees measured in acres/square feet of one-quarter
(1/4) acre or more that contains a natural or cultivated low-density
forest in which trees having a three-inch or greater caliper represent
more than fifty percent (50%) of the total number trees in the area.