The purpose of this chapter is to protect, preserve and promote
the urban forest of Chesapeake Beach, which is part of a larger ecosystem
which contributes significantly to air, noise and visual pollution
control, moderates climate extremes, promotes sound energy conservation,
and has significant aesthetic value affecting property values and
the community's quality of life; and to establish a Tree Board
to regulate the planting, maintenance and removal of trees in public
places, and certain trees located on private property.
The official street tree species for Chesapeake Beach are those
tree species listed in the current edition of Street Tree Factsheets,
published by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, as may
be supplemented from time to time by the Tree Board upon receipt of
advice by a professional arborist.
No permit shall be required when performing professionally accepted
tree maintenance as outlined in the ANSI Z Standards (American National
Standard Institute), except in the case of tree removal.
The appeals panel shall consider the following factors in deciding
whether to approve, disapprove or modify the decision of the municipal
arborist:
A. Those specified in §
263-5 above if relevant to the appeal.
B. The reasons cited by the applicant for wanting to remove or destroy
the tree.
C. The reasons, if any, cited by residents who are either in favor of
or in opposition to the issuance of the permit.
D. Whether tree clearing is necessary to achieve proposed development,
construction or land use otherwise permitted under the Town Code,
and the extent to which there is no reasonable alternative.
E. Whether the applicant proposes reforestation.
F. Hardship to the applicant if a permit for the requested action is
denied.
G. The desirability of preserving a tree by reason of its age, size
or outstanding qualities, including uniqueness, rarity or species
specimen.
H. Such other relevant matters as will promote fairness and justice
in deciding the particular case.