[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Village of Cove Neck 3-22-2022 by L.L. No. 2-2022. Amendments noted where applicable.]
A. 
The Board of Trustees of the Village of Cove Neck has determined that there is a direct relationship between the maintenance and preservation of existing trees and the natural, scenic and aesthetic values enjoyed by Village residents that warrants protection. The Board of Trustees finds that the maintenance and preservation of existing trees reduces noise, provides welcome shade to Village properties, preserves the air quality, stabilizes the soil, prevents and reduces soil erosion and provides a welcome natural habitat for wildlife, and is generally environmentally positive. The Board of Trustees further finds that the existing trees along the Village's public and private roads provide for the Village's bucolic and rural atmosphere and warrant protection and preservation.
B. 
The indiscriminate destruction and unregulated removal of trees on all properties in the Village threatens the overall benefits that would be derived from preserving, protecting and maintaining trees in the Village. Accordingly, the Board of Trustees believes that in order to protect the health, safety and general welfare of the Village residents and preserve and protect the essential character of the Village, regulation of the removal of trees shall be adopted.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
APPLICANT
The owner, or its duly authorized agent, that seeks a tree removal permit within the boundaries of its property pursuant to the provisions of this chapter. A contract-vendee or lessee of real property may only apply for a tree removal permit with the owner's written permission.
ARBORICULTURAL PRUNING STANDARDS
Acceptable pruning standards are as set forth in ANSI A300 (Part 1) - 2017 Pruning, published by the Tree Care Industry Association, Inc., currently contained in Exhibit I.[1] In the future, these standards may be revised from time to time and the most current standards shall be applied.
ARBORIST
A specialist certified by ISA (International Society of Arboriculture), a national organization in the care and maintenance of trees and shrubs.
DESTROY
Includes, but without limitation, tree removal; poisoning; ringing the tree; excessive peeling of bark; damaging, compacting or overburdening the roots; using herbicides or fire; or excessive pruning or cutting in such manner as to bring about the ultimate death of such tree.
PERSON
Includes any individual, firm, partnership, association, corporation, company, public agency, public utility or organization of any kind and its successor or agent thereof.
PROTECTED TREE
A deciduous or evergreen woody perennial plant which is seven inches or more by caliper or 22 inches in circumference at a height of four feet, six inches above the ground.
SPECIMEN TREE
Any tree that has been individually designated by the Village Board of Trustees or Arborist to be notable by virtue of its outstanding size and quality for its particular species.
SUBSTANTIALLY ALTER
Includes, but is not limited to, tree removal, excessive or improper cutting, topping or pruning of trees that does not follow acceptable pruning standards. "Substantially alter" does not include periodic trimming, shaping, thinning or pruning of a tree to preserve or protect its health, growth or appearance, provided it is in full compliance with nationally recognized horticulture standards and practices.
TREE TOPPING
The severe cutting back of limbs to stubs larger than three inches in diameter within the tree's crown to such a degree so as to remove all or part of the normal canopy and disfigure the tree.
TREE WARDEN
An individual or firm appointed by the Board of Trustees.
VILLAGE
The Village of Cove Neck.
[1]
Editor's Note: Exhibit I is on file in the Village offices.
A. 
It shall be unlawful for any person, including a property owner, to remove, cut down, destroy or substantially alter, or to allow or permit to be removed, cut down, destroyed or substantially altered, any protected tree (see definition above), unless a tree removal permit has been issued by the Village pursuant to this chapter.
B. 
A tree removal permit is not required if the Mayor or Tree Warden declares an emergency situation. "Emergency" shall be defined as one where there is an imminent danger to person or property that requires immediate action to address.
A. 
This chapter shall be administered by the Village Tree Warden and, as provided herein, the Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees may, by resolution, adopt rules, regulations and guidelines for efficiently discharging their duties and that of the Village Tree Warden in the application of this chapter.
B. 
The Board of Trustees may, upon the recommendation of the Tree Warden, retain the services of a professional arborist regarding the advisability of tree removal or to assist in determining whether a tree is substantially altered. The cost of such professional services shall, in all cases, be paid by the applicant in addition to any permit fee.
C. 
The Tree Warden may approve, deny or modify a tree removal permit. If the Tree Warden denies a tree removal permit, he must set forth his grounds. The Tree Warden may impose reasonable conditions to any tree removal permit, including, but not limited to, the planting of replacement trees or, in lieu of planting replacement trees, the payment of a fee to the Village as set forth herein.
A. 
The application for a tree removal permit shall be made on the form provided by the Village and shall include the following information:
(1) 
The name and address of the applicant and the owner of the real property.
(2) 
Written consent of the owner or owners of the real property if the applicant is not the owner.
(3) 
Location of the property, including a street number and address, and Tax Map designation.
(4) 
Purpose for the proposed protected tree removal or alteration.
(5) 
Site of the proposed protected tree removal or alteration, as noted on a sketch.
(6) 
The size, species and planting location of all proposed replacement trees.
B. 
If required by the Tree Warden, a plan of the property indicating some or all of the following:
(1) 
Property boundary lines, noting locations of adjoining property owner structures.
(2) 
The location of any existing and proposed improvements and structures on the real property.
(3) 
An outline of existing heavily wooded areas on the site, showing the tree type and range of sizes.
(4) 
Location and label of the protected trees to be removed and those protected trees to be maintained, all trees to be identified by size and species.
(5) 
Any additional information that the Tree Warden may reasonably deem necessary for evaluation of the application.
C. 
The decision of the Tree Warden shall be based upon the following criteria:
(1) 
The condition of the protected trees to be removed with respect to the trees' condition and structure, the potential and likelihood of danger to existing or proposed structures, the trees' interference with utility services or the danger they present to the property owner and guests.
(2) 
Whether alternatives are available to pursue in lieu of removal.
(3) 
The effect of the removal, destruction or alteration on ecological systems.
(4) 
The impact of any removal, destruction or alteration upon existing screening of any neighboring property or properties and/or any road or highway bordering the property.
D. 
No tree removal permit is required for any protected trees that are to be removed due to construction for which a Village building permit has been issued.
E. 
A tree removal permit shall have a duration of 90 days from the date of issuance.
F. 
Tree permit fee: See Code § 65-7T.
A. 
The Tree Warden may require the replanting of trees as a condition for the issuance of a tree removal permit. The size, number and type of replacement trees, along with the designated location for planting, shall be as required by the Board of Trustees with input from the Village Arborist and Tree Warden. The Trustees may require a landscape plan, prepared by a New York State registered landscape architect listing the replacement plantings and their location on the property. As a condition to a tree removal permit which requires the replanting of trees, the Trustees may require a tree planting deposit, in an amount determined by the Trustees, to insure the planting of the required replacement trees. This deposit will be refunded upon the Tree Warden certifying that the required replanting has been completed according to the approved plan.
B. 
If recommended by the Tree Warden and approved by the Board of Trustees, in lieu of replanting, the owner can contribute to the Village beautification fund an amount set by the Board of Trustees not to exceed $300 per tree for all removed trees not replanted.
A. 
Any person aggrieved by any act or determination of the Tree Warden or Board of Trustees shall have the right to appeal to the Board of Zoning Appeals, and its decision shall be final and conclusive.
B. 
All appeals shall be in writing, stating the decision appealed from and reasons for the appeal.
A. 
Each protected tree removed, cut down, destroyed or substantially altered in violation of this chapter shall be a separate violation.
B. 
Any person committing, allowing, permitting or directing any offense of the provision of this chapter, or any regulation duly established by resolution of the Board of Trustees, shall, upon conviction, be punishable and responsible for the following minimum fines: for the first three protected trees substantially altered, $500 per protected tree, and $1,000 per protected tree in the event more than three protected trees were substantially altered. In addition to the imposed fine under § 160-8, a tree removal permit must then be obtained pursuant to and subject to all conditions and requirements of Chapter 160, including the payment of the required permit fee and the imposition of the planting of replacement trees or payment in lieu as determined by the Tree Warden.
The Tree Warden, Village Building Inspector, the Code Enforcement Officer, or an authorized peace officer are hereby vested with the authority to enforce the provisions of this chapter and stop all tree work in violation of this chapter.
Every property owner in the Village shall be responsible to maintain all trees on their property, regardless of size, in such condition that they do not constitute a hazard and/or danger to the those traveling on either a public or private road in the Village. After receiving written notification from the Tree Warden that a dangerous tree or trees are on the owner's property that constitute a hazard and/or danger to those traveling on either a public or private road in the Village, the property owner shall immediately remove the tree constituting the danger, or provide the Tree Warden with a certification from an SA-certified arborist that the tree is not dangerous within five days of receiving notification. Failure to take either action, the Village will have the dangerous tree or trees removed and all costs incurred by the Village will be deemed a lien against the property and included in the next property owner's Village tax bill.