The purpose of this chapter is to protect trees from indiscriminate
cutting or removal, recognizing their contribution as a community
resource which provides shade, sequesters carbon, and purifies the
air.
(Ord. No. 1000 § 4, 2022)
A. Trees
overhanging a street. Pruning of branches is required so that such
branches shall not significantly obstruct any streetlight or obstruct
the view of any street intersection, and so that there shall be a
clean space of 14 feet six inches above the surface of the street
and eight feet above the sidewalk. The owner shall remove all dead,
diseased, or dangerous trees or broken or decayed limbs which constitute
a threat to the safety of the public.
B. Nuisance
trees. The following trees may be considered a nuisance by the city
and are subject to pruning or removal requirements:
1. Any
tree that interferes with proper traffic sight distances, or interferes
with visibility of any trafficcontrol device or sign.
2. Any
tree which constitutes a hazard to life and property or harbor insect(s),
fungi, or disease(s) which constitute a threat to other trees within
the city.
3. Any
tree which is an unsafe condition or which by reason of its nature
or growth is injurious to sewers, power lines, gas lines, waterlines,
or other public improvements.
4. Any
tree which presents a risk of damage to public improvements or facilities,
or is a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
C. Credit
for tree preservation. Existing trees which are not removed shall
be credited toward tree requirements in the following manner at 1:½
ratio, e.g., an existing healthy tree with six-inch minimum trunk
diameter measured at breast height is equal to three trees to be installed
(parking lots only).
D. Conflict
between structures and protected trees. In case of conflict between
the proposed structure location and a protected tree, all reasonable
alternatives shall be considered for location of the structure prior
to removal of a heritage or protected tree or trees.
E. Use
of explosives. The removal of trees and/or any part of a tree with
explosives is prohibited.
(Ord. No. 1000 § 4, 2022)
A. All
heritage tree removal shall require replacement with the largest nursery-grown
tree(s) available as determined by the planning director or planning
commission. Heritage tree relocation to another location on the site
is the preferred alternative to replacement subject to a written report
by a landscape architect or arborist on the feasibility of transplanting
the tree.
B. To
assist the planning director in making a determination, the applicant
for a tree removal permit may be required to submit an arborist report
prepared by a qualified arborist to determine the replacement value
of the tree(s) to be removed.
(Ord. No. 1000 § 4, 2022)
Care shall be exercised by all individuals, developers, and
contractors working near preserved trees so that no damage occurs
to such trees. All construction shall preserve and protect the health
of trees to remain, relocated trees, and new trees planted to replace
those removed in accordance with the following measures:
A. All
trees to be saved shall be enclosed by an appropriate construction
barrier, such as chain-link fence or other means acceptable to the
planning director, prior to the issuance of any grading permit or
building permit and prior to commencement of work. Fences are to remain
in place during all phases of construction and may not be removed
without the written consent of the planning director until construction
is complete.
B. No
substantial disruption or removal of the structural or absorptive
roots of any tree shall be performed.
C. No
fill material shall be placed within six feet from the outer trunk
circumference of any tree.
D. No
fill materials shall be placed within the drip line of any tree in
excess of eight inches in depth. This is a guideline and is subject
to modification to meet the needs of individual tree species as determined
by an arborist or landscape architect.
E. No
substantial compaction of the soil within the drip line of any tree
shall be undertaken.
FIGURE 17.80.050-1 TREE DRIP LINE
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F. No
construction, including structures and walls, that disrupts the root
system shall be permitted. As a guideline, no cutting of roots should
occur within a distance equal to three and one-half times the trunk
diameter, as determined in DBH inches at a height of four and one-half
feet. Actual setback may vary to meet the needs of individual tree
species as determined by an arborist or landscape architect. Where
some root removal is necessary, the tree crown may require thinning
to prevent wind damage.
G. The
planning director may impose such additional measures determined necessary
to preserve and protect the health of trees to remain, relocated trees,
and new trees planted to replace those removed.
(Ord. No. 1000 § 4, 2022)
A. The
maintenance of trees standing upon private or homeowner-owned property
shall be the responsibility of the owner or owners of those properties.
B. All
trees on public and private property, within residential, commercial,
or mixed use areas shall be maintained in accordance with industry
standards and with the International Society of Arboriculture or ANZI
133.1 standards.
C. Builders
shall be required to prune, treat, and maintain existing trees and
plant new ones in such a fashion that when the trees become city,
association, or private property, the trees will be free of various
damage, pests, diseases, and dead branches. The trees shall be in
good biological and aesthetic condition upon acceptance.
(Ord. No. 1000 § 4, 2022)