[Ord. No. 214, 1/6/2020]
A list of the suitable species of trees that may be planted as street trees has been adopted in section 22-502.8.H(8) of the London Grove Township Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance.
[Ord. No. 214, 1/6/2020]
The spacing of street trees shall be in accordance with the standards adopted in Section 22-502.8.H of the London Grove Township Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance or as otherwise approved by the township's landscape architect.
[Ord. No. 214, 1/6/2020]
The distance that street trees may be planted from curbs or curb lines and sidewalks shall be based on the standards adopted in section 22-502.8.H of the London Grove Township Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance, or as otherwise approved by the township's landscape architect.
[Ord. No. 214, 1/6/2020]
No street tree shall obstruct the clear sight triangle required by section 22-611.5.C of the London Grove Township Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance. No street tree shall be planted closer than 10 feet to any fire hydrant.
[Ord. No. 214, 1/6/2020]
No street tree may be planted under or within 10 lateral feet of any overhead utility wire, or over or within five lateral feet of any underground water line, sewer line, transmission line or other utility.
[Ord. No. 214, 1/6/2020]
The township shall have the right to plant, prune, maintain and remove all street trees except street trees on state owned highways and park trees as may be necessary to ensure public safety or to preserve or enhance the symmetry and beauty of such public land.
The board of supervisors may remove or cause or order to be removed, any street tree or part thereof which is in an unsafe condition or which by reason of its nature is injurious to sewers, electric power lines, gas lines, water lines, or other public improvements, or is affected with any injurious fungus, insect or other pest. This section does not prohibit the planting of street trees by adjacent property owners provided that the selection and location of said trees is in accordance with sections 17-201 through 17-205 of this chapter.
[Ord. No. 214, 1/6/2020]
It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, or township department to top any street tree or park tree. Topping is defined as the severe cutting back of limbs to stubs larger than three inches in diameter within the tree's crown to such a degree so as to remove the normal canopy and disfigure the tree. Trees severely damaged by storms or other causes, or certain trees under utility wires or other obstructions where other pruning practices are impractical may be exempted from this provision in the reasonable discretion of the tree committee.
[Ord. No. 214, 1/6/2020]
Every owner of any tree or shrub overhanging any street or right-of-way within the township shall prune the branches so that such branches shall not obstruct the light from any street lamp or obstruct the view of any street intersection or traffic control device or sign and so that there shall be a clear space of eight feet above the surface of the street or sidewalk. Said owners shall remove all dead, diseased or dangerous trees, or broken or decayed limbs which unreasonably affect or interfere with the health, safety or welfare of the public or the right of the public to the unobstructed use of public roads or public property. If the owner of the tree or shrub fails to prune their tree or shrub as required in this section, after written notice and an opportunity to cure is provided by the township, the township shall have the right to prune any tree or shrub on private property and charge the cost thereof against the owner of the property and file a lien against the property if necessary to collect such costs.
[Ord. No. 214, 1/6/2020]
The township shall have the right to cause the removal of any dead or diseased trees or shrubs on private property within the township, when such trees or shrubs unreasonably affect or interfere with the health, safety or welfare of the public or the right of the public to the unobstructed use of public roads or public property, or harbor insects or disease which constitute a potential threat to other trees or shrubs within the township. The township tree committee shall notify in writing the owners of such trees. Removal shall be done by said owners at their own expense within 60 days after the date of service of notice. In the event of failure of owners to comply with such provisions, the township shall have the authority to remove such trees, charge the cost of removal on the property owner and file a lien against the property if necessary, to collect such costs.
[Ord. No. 214, 1/6/2020]
All stumps of street trees and park trees shall be removed below the surface of the ground so that the top of the stump shall not project above the surface of the ground.
[Ord. No. 214, 1/6/2020]
It shall be unlawful for any person or firm to engage in the business or occupation of pruning, treating or removing street trees or park trees within the township without first applying for and procuring an annual arborist permit. The permit fee shall be $50 annually; provided, however, that no permit shall be required for employees of any public utility company or the township who are performing work on trees as part of their scope of employment. Before any permit shall be issued, each applicant shall obtain and file with the township a certificate of insurance evidencing possession of liability insurance in the minimum amounts of $50,000 for bodily injury and $100,000 property damage. The applicant shall also sign an agreement indemnifying the township or any person injured or damaged resulting from pruning, treating or removing street trees or park trees within the township.
Property owners who perform their own work on their own property are exempt from the requirement to obtain a permit.