Borough of Park Ridge, NJ Tree Removal

To establish requirements for tree removal and replacement in Borough of Park Ridge to reduce soil erosion and pollutant runoff, promote infiltration of rainwater into the soil, and protect the environment, public health, safety, and welfare.

§ 80-39 Definitions.

For the purpose of this article, the following terms, phrases, words, and their derivations shall have the meanings stated herein unless their use in the text of this article clearly demonstrates a different meaning. When consistent with the context, words used in the present tense include the future, words used in the plural number include the singular number, and words used in the singular number include the plural number. The use of the word "shall" means the requirement is always mandatory and not merely directory.

APPLICANT

Any person, as defined below, who applies for approval to remove trees regulated under this article.

CLEAR-CUTTING

The removal in any calendar year of more than four trees or 25% of the trees on any lot in the Borough as depicted on the Borough's tax map or on or in any approved subdivision plat or deed, whichever lot is smaller in size, not on any Borough right-of-way.

CRITICAL ROOT RADIUS (CRR)

The zone around the base of a tree where the majority of the root system is found. This zone is calculated by multiplying the diameter at breast height (DBH) of the tree by 1.5 feet. For example: a tree with a six inches DBH would have a CRR = six inches by 1.5 feet equals nine inches.

DIAMETER AT BREAST HEIGHT (DBH)

The diameter of the trunk of a mature tree generally measured at a point 4 1/2 feet above ground level from the uphill side of the tree. For species of trees where the main trunk divides below the 4 1/2 foot height, the DBH shall be measured at the highest point before any division.

HAZARD TREE

A tree or limbs thereof that meet one or more of the criteria below. Trees that do not meet any of the criteria below and are proposed to be removed solely for development purposes are not hazard trees, a licensed tree expert to make all hazard tree determination.

Has an infectious disease or insect infestation;

Is dead or dying;

Obstructs the view of traffic signs or the free passage of pedestrians or vehicles, where pruning attempts have not been effective;

Is causing obvious damage to structures (such as building foundations, sidewalks, etc.); or

Is determined to be a threat to public health, safety, and/or welfare by a certified arborist or licensed tree expert (LTE).

PERSON

Any individual, resident, corporation, utility, company, partnership, firm, or association.

PLANTING STRIP

The part of a street right-of-way between the public right-of-way and the portion of the street reserved for vehicular traffic or between the abutting property line and the curb or traveled portion of the street, exclusive of any sidewalk.

RESIDENT

An individual who resides on the residential property or contractor hired by the individual who resides on the residential property where a tree(s) regulated by this article is removed or proposed to be removed.

STREET TREE

A tree planted in the sidewalk, planting strip, and/or in the public right-of-way adjacent to the portion of the street reserved for vehicular traffic. This also includes trees planted in planting strips within the roadway right-of-way, i.e., islands, medians, pedestrian refuges.

TREE

A woody perennial plant, typically having a single stem or trunk growing to a considerable height and bearing lateral branches at some distance from the ground.

TREE CALIPER

The diameter of the trunk of a young tree, measured six inches from the soil line. For young trees whose caliper exceeds four inches, the measurement is taken 12 inches above the soil line.

TREE REMOVAL

To kill or to cause irreparable damage that leads to the decline and/or death of a tree. This includes, but is not limited to, excessive pruning, application of substances that are toxic to the tree, over-mulching or improper mulching, and improper grading and/or soil compaction within the critical root radius around the base of the tree that leads to the decline and/or death of a tree. "Removal" does not include responsible pruning and maintenance of a tree, or the application of treatments intended to manage invasive species.

§ 80-40 Regulated activities.

Application for clear-cutting permit: Applications for permission to clear cut a lot are to be filed with the Zoning Office and will state the information requested on the application, including:

(1)

The applicant's name, address, and telephone number.

(2)

The address, block and lot number, and location of the property.

(3)

A site plan or survey of the property showing the location of the trees proposed to be cut.

(4)

The applicant also will use visible weatherproof markings on the trees proposed to be cut, provided that no paint or chemicals that are harmful to the trees are used.

(5)

An application fee in the amount of $50 to be paid upon the filing of an application under this article.

Review of applications. The Zoning Officer will grant or deny any application filed under this article within 30 days of the receipt of the application and fee, unless the applicant consents to an extension. If no action is taken by the Zoning Officer within this time period, then the application will be deemed denied. Any application for clear cutting will be reviewed by the Zoning Officer and will be granted or denied on written notice sent to the applicant at the address stated in the application. The Zoning Officer may request comment on the application from the other Borough employees, Construction Official, Green Team, Shade Tree Committee, Borough Planner, and/or Borough Engineer. In addition to the above, if required, the Zoning Officer may consult a certified arborist or licensed tree expert (LTE).

Tree replacement requirements.

(1)

Any person who removes one or more street tree(s) with a DBH of eight inches or more, unless exempt under § 80-41, shall be subject to the requirements of the Tree Replacement Requirements Table below.

(2)

Any person, who removes one or more tree(s), as defined as Tree removal, with a DBH of eight inches or more per acre, unless otherwise detailed under § 80-41, shall be subject to the requirements of the Tree Replacement Requirements Table.

(3)

The species type and diversity of replacement trees shall be in accordance with Appendix A.[1]

[1]

Editor's Note: Appendix A is included as an attachment to this chapter.

(4)

Replacement tree(s) shall:

(a)

Be replaced in kind with a tree that has an equal or greater DBH than tree removed or meet the tree replacement criteria in the table below;

(b)

Be planted within 12 months of the date of removal of the original tree(s) or at an alternative date specified by the municipality;

(c)

Be monitored by the applicant for a period of two years to ensure their survival and shall be replaced as needed within 12 months; and

(d)

Shall not be planted in temporary containers or pots, as these do not count towards tree replacement requirements.

Tree Replacement Requirements Table:
Category	Tree Removed (DBH)	Tree Replacement Criteria (See Appendix A)	Application Fee
1	DBH of 2.5 inches (for street trees) or 6 inches (for non-street trees) to 12.99 inches	Replant 1 tree with a minimum tree caliper of 1.5 inches for each tree removed	$50
2	DBH of 13 inches to 22.99 inches	Replant 2 trees with minimum tree calipers of 1.5 inches for each tree removed	$75
3	DBH of 23 inches to 32.99 inches	Replant 3 trees with minimum tree calipers of 1.5 inches for each tree removed	$100
4	DBH of 33 inches or greater	Replant 4 trees with minimum tree calipers of 1.5 inches for each tree removed	$100

Replacement alternatives:

(1)

If the municipality determines that some or all required replacement trees cannot be planted on the property where the tree removal activity occurred, then the applicant shall do one of the following:

(a)

Plant replacement trees in a separate area(s) approved by the municipality.

(b)

Pay a fee of $500 per tree removed. This fee shall be placed into a fund dedicated to tree planting and continued maintenance of the trees.

§ 80-41 Exemptions.

All persons shall comply with the tree replacement standard outlined above, except in the cases detailed below. Proper justification shall be provided, in writing, to the municipality by all persons claiming an exemption. Proper justification shall be made by a NJ licensed tree expert as per N.J.S.A. 45:15C-11 or arborist.

Residents who remove less than four trees per acre that fall into category 1, 2, or 3 of the Tree Replacement Requirements Table within a five-year period. The number of trees removed is a rolling count across a five-year period. For example, if three trees from category one are removed in July 2023, the count resets to zero in July 2028. However, if one tree from category one is removed in July 2023 and another in July of 2025 the first tree will come off the count in July 2028 and the second in July 2030;

Tree farms in active operation, nurseries, fruit orchards, and garden centers;

Properties used for the practice of silviculture under an approved forest stewardship or woodland management plan that is active and on file with the municipality;

Any trees removed as part of a municipal or state decommissioning plan. This exemption only includes trees planted as part of the construction and predetermined to be removed in the decommissioning plan.

Any trees removed pursuant to a New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) or U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved environmental clean-up, or NJDEP approved habitat enhancement plan;

Approved game management practices, as recommended by the State of New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Fish, Game and Wildlife;

Hazard trees may be removed with no fee or replacement requirement.

§ 80-42 Enforcement.

This article shall be enforced by the Zoning Officer.

§ 80-43 Violations and penalties.

The Borough's Zoning Officer will enforce this article. For violation of this article, there shall be a fine of $250. Each tree that is cut in violation of this article shall be a considered a separate violation. In addition to fines, the Zoning Officer may require implementation of any remedial measures recommended by the Borough Engineer and/or Borough Planner to correct the violations of this article.

§ 80-44 Severability.

Each section, subsection, sentence, clause, and phrase of this article is declared to be an independent section, subsection, sentence, clause, and phrase, and finding or holding of any such portion of this article to be unconstitutional, void, or ineffective for any cause or reason shall not affect any other portion of this article.

§ 80-45 Effective date.

This article shall be in full force and effect from and after its adoption and any publication as may be required by law.