The oak trees of Los Altos Hills are a valued community asset. The purpose of this article is to establish policies and procedures for their promotion and protection and to create community awareness of their intrinsic value.
(§ 3, Ord. 332, eff. June 1, 1990)
No person shall remove, purposefully damage, or purposefully cause to die any Heritage Oak on private or public property within the Town of Los Altos Hills without first having obtained a removal permit from the Town. A removal permit is not required when:
(a) 
The Heritage Oak has been identified for removal on an approved tentative subdivision map or an approved site development permit; or
(b) 
The City Manager (or designee) has determined that the Heritage Oak presents an immediate danger to persons or property. Persons believing a Heritage Oak presents an immediate danger should call Town Hall during normal business hours and 911 at all other times.
(§ 3, Ord. 332, eff. June 1, 1990)
Application for a Heritage Oak removal permit may be made by the owner or authorized representative by telephone or in writing to the City Manager or designee, and shall contain the number, size, and location of the Heritage Oak(s) requested to be removed, and a brief explanation of the reasons for the requested removal. Such reasons may include, but not be limited to, the fact that the Heritage Oak is dead, diseased beyond reclamation, hazardous, or crowded and that good horticultural practices dictate its removal. If there is a disagreement regarding the condition of the Heritage Oak between the applicant and the Town, an arborist's opinion must be obtained at the expense of the applicant.
The City Council shall fix the amount of the removal permit fee by resolution.
(§ 3, Ord. 332, eff. June 1, 1990)
The Town shall mail written notice of the removal permit application to owners of all abutting property, except when the reason for the application is that the Heritage Oak is dead, diseased beyond reclamation, hazardous, or crowded such that good horticultural practices dictate its removal. If there is no protest against removing the Heritage Oak within 10 days of the date of the mailing, the City Manager (or designee) may issue the removal permit pursuant to Section 12-3.305. If there is a protest received within 10 days of the date of the mailing, the matter shall be heard by the Site Development Committee after notice of a hearing is given at least 10 days in advance to the applicant and the protestant. For the purposes of this section, an "abutting property" is a property whose property line touches the property of the applicant for the removal permit.
(§ 3, Ord. 332, eff. June 1, 1990)
A removal permit may be approved when the Town has determined that at least one of the following conditions is satisfied:
(a) 
The Heritage Oak is dead, diseased beyond reclamation, hazardous, or crowded and that good horticultural practices dictate its removal.
(b) 
The Heritage Oak is interfering with existing utilities, structures, improved surfaces, or rights-of-way to the extent that the pruning or other measures will not correct the problem.
(c) 
Special conditions exist which indicate that removal of the Heritage Oak is otherwise of net benefit to the Town and its residents.
(§ 3, Ord. 332, eff. June 1, 1990)
The City Manager (or designee) or the Site Development Committee, whichever is applicable, may attach reasonable conditions to the approval of a removal permit, including, but not limited to, the requirement that up to five trees be planted for each one removed.
(§ 3, Ord. 332, eff. June 1, 1990)
An applicant may appeal the decision of the City Manager (or designee) to the City Council. The applicant or protestant may appeal the decision of the Site Development Committee to the City Council. The appeal shall be conducted in accordance with Section 10-1.1009 of the Los Altos Hills Municipal Code.
(§ 3, Ord. 332, eff. June 1, 1990)