[Adopted 11-14-2017 by Ord. No. 2017-O-15; amended in its entirety 1-24-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-O-4]
Terms used in this article shall have the following meanings, whether or not the terms are capitalized. Unless otherwise expressly stated, terms not defined in this article shall construed consistent with their common and ordinary meaning.
RIGHT-OF-WAY
The area of any public street, road, highway or other publicly held thoroughfare within the corporate limits of the Township that has been designated by law as a public right-of-way.
SIGHT TRIANGLE
A triangular-shaped portion of land established at street intersections in which nothing is erected, placed, planted, or allowed to grow in such a manner as to obstruct the sight distance of motorists entering or leaving an intersection. The extents of sight triangles shall be determined by using the most stringent requirements contained in the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code, Warrington Township Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance, or Warrington Township Zoning Ordinance, as applicable.
STREET TREE
Any tree, shrub or other woody plant, which is planted in any right of way, or has at least half of trunk, branches or roots extending into any right of way.
A. 
The maintenance, care or removal of any tree, and required compliance with any provision of this article shall be the responsibility of the property owner on whose property the tree is located. The property owner whose property fronts on a street having one or more street trees within a right of way is responsible for the maintenance, care or removal of street trees and shall remove such trees that are dead, diseased or dangerous.
B. 
No person, without first obtaining permission from the Township, shall plant a street tree within any public right of way.
C. 
All mature street trees shall be kept trimmed to a minimum branching height of 10 feet where they overhang any public walk or public street. However the Township may require greater height clearances to eliminate traffic and other hazards. All trees standing on private property and having branches projecting over a public walk or street shall be kept trimmed by the owner of such private property so that the lowest branches shall have a minimum height of 10 feet where they overhang any public walk or public street. All street trees having branches projecting over a public walk or street shall be kept trimmed by the abutting property so that the lowest branches shall have a minimum height of 10 feet where they overhang any public walk or public street.
D. 
Whenever, in the opinion of the Director of Code Enforcement, a health or safety hazard is caused by a street tree or a tree on private property that overhangs a public walk or street, the Director of Code Enforcement may issue a written order to the responsible property owner to take action to correct the condition within 10 days of the date of the order. If after written notification, the responsible property owner fails to take corrective action, the Director of Code Enforcement shall have the required work accomplished to correct the health and safety condition and shall bill the responsible property owner. Failure of the responsible property owner to pay the bill shall result in a lien upon the property which shall be filed and collected in the same manner as municipal claims are filed and collected.
E. 
Whenever, in the opinion of the Director of Code Enforcement, any vegetation or object located on private property obstructs the sight distance of motorists in the sight triangle, the Director of Code Enforcement may issue a written order to the responsible property owner to take action to correct the condition within 10 days of the date of the order. If after written notification, the responsible property owner fails to take corrective action, the Director of Code Enforcement shall have the required work accomplished to correct the health and safety condition and shall bill the responsible property owner. Failure of the responsible property owner to pay the bill shall result in a lien upon the property which shall be filed and collected in the same manner as municipal claims are filed and collected.
A. 
The Director of Code Enforcement may, upon concluding that a street tree or a tree located on private property is diseased and dying, or damaged beyond recovery of health or poses a threat to property or safety, order the responsible property owner to remove the tree. The responsible property owner shall have 10 days from the date of the order to take action. If after written notice, the responsible property owner fails to take corrective action, the Director of Code Enforcement shall have the tree removed and shall bill the responsible property owner. Failure of the responsible property owner to pay the bill shall result in a lien upon the property which shall be filed and collected in the same manner as municipal claims are filed and collected.
B. 
In an emergency where a tree poses an immediate threat to health, property or safety, the Director of Code Enforcement may order the immediate removal of a tree. Prior to the removal of the tree, the Director of Code Enforcement, shall document how the tree poses an immediate threat to health and safety. Prior to removal, the Director of Code Enforcement shall make a good faith effort to notify the responsible property owner and to provide a reasonable opportunity under the circumstance to effect removal. After removal of a tree, the Director of Code Enforcement shall bill the responsible property owner for the cost of removal. Failure of the responsible property owner to pay the bill shall result in a lien upon the property which shall be filed and collected in the same manner as municipal claims are filed and collected.
Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate any provision of this article shall upon conviction thereof, be guilty of a summary offense, and may be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $600 and costs; and/or undergo imprisonment not to exceed 90 days. Every day that a violation of this article continues shall constitute a separate offense.