The purpose of this article is to establish minimal standards for the planting of street trees throughout the City, to allow the property owner maximum flexibility in the choice and placement of street trees in relation to private landscaping, and to establish installation and maintenance obligations of the property owner and the City.
(§ 1, Ord. 1252, eff. September 24, 1975; § 1, Ord. 1702, eff. November 11, 1988)
The Community Development Department shall maintain a master street tree planting plan for all City streets. The plan shall provide a list of approved tree species for each street in residential and nonresidential zones.
(§ 1, Ord. 1252, eff. September 24, 1975; § 1, Ord. 1702, eff. November 11, 1988)
a. 
Street tree
is defined to be any tree located within six feet from the back edge of the sidewalk, or if there is no sidewalk, eleven feet from the curb line.
b. 
Maintenance
is defined to include the regular pruning, fertilization, irrigation and other normal garden management practices necessary for healthy plant growth.
(§ 1, Ord. 1252, eff. September 24, 1975; § 1, Ord. 1702, eff. November 11, 1988)
No person shall set out or plant any street tree without first obtaining a planting permit from the Community Development Department.
(§ 1, Ord. 1242, eff. September 24, 1975; § 1, Ord. 1702, eff. November 11, 1988)
a. 
New Developments. The Design Review Authority, pursuant to Part IV, Article 12, Design Review, shall review the type, size and location of street trees for new development as a part of the design review plan proposed for the project. The Design Review Authority's approval shall constitute the planting permit required under Section 7-1.404.
b. 
No Project Development. In the event property owners in residential and nonresidential districts desire to install street trees where no street trees presently exist but do not propose project development, the Community Development Director shall review the type, size and location of street trees proposed for installation.
c. 
Scope of Design Review Authority. The Design Review Authority may grant street tree approvals relating to species, location and type of street trees which vary from planting standards hereinafter provided in order to promote a greater degree of compatibility with the proposed private landscaping of a new development.
(§ 1, Ord. 1252, eff. September 24, 1975; § 1, Ord. 1702, eff. November 11, 1988; § 3, Ord. 2239, eff. 7/5/2024)
Street trees in the R, D-3, M, H-P-D, M-H-D, SFH-PD1, M-U, MU-C, MU-R, and MU-D districts shall be planted under the following standards:
a. 
The street tree shall be planted at forty (40) foot intervals; however, upon request of an applicant, the Community Development Director or the Design Review Authority may grant a deviation from this distance requirement up to fifteen percent (15%);
b. 
The street tree shall not be within three (3) feet of a public sidewalk except in existing parkway areas as approved by either the Community Development Director or the Design Review Authority;
c. 
The street tree shall not be within ten (10) feet of any sewer or water line;
d. 
The street tree shall not be within five (5) feet of a driveway;
e. 
The street tree species shall conform to the City's master street tree planting plan;
f. 
The street tree shall be of a species compatible with existing or proposed on-site tree species;
g. 
Any existing street tree which constitutes a specimen or mature tree within the regulation of Sections 3-8.01 through 3-8.08 may be substituted for the required street tree;
h. 
The street tree shall be of the following minimum size: a diameter of one (1) inch measured four (4) feet six (6) inches above the ground and which has a minimum height of eight (8) feet or fifteen (15) gallon size;
i. 
Street trees shall be installed in accordance with the standard street tree planting specifications maintained by the Community Development Department.
(§ 1, Ord. 1252, eff. September 24, 1975; § 1, Ord. 1702, eff. November 11, 1988; § 3, Ord. 2239, eff. 7/5/2024)
Street trees in the P-R, C-R, O-C, AS-CM, S-C, B-P, C-C, C-F, HO-PD or P-D districts shall be planted under the following standards:
a. 
The street tree shall be planted normally at forty (40) foot intervals;
b. 
Street trees shall be adjacent to the curb in three (3) feet by four (4) feet cut outs in the sidewalk with concrete tree well covers according to the standard street tree planting specifications maintained by the Community Development Department;
c. 
In areas where the sidewalk is five (5) feet wide, street trees shall be planted outside of the sidewalk;
d. 
The street tree species shall conform to the master street tree planting plan;
e. 
The street tree shall be of a species compatible with existing or proposed on-site tree species;
f. 
Any existing street tree which constitutes a specimen or mature tree within the regulation of Sections 3-8.01 through 3-8.08 may be substituted for the required street tree;
g. 
The street tree shall be of the following minimum size: a diameter of one (1) inch measured four (4) feet six (6) inches above the ground and which has a minimum height of eight (8) feet or fifteen (15) gallon size.
(§ 1, Ord. 1252, eff. September 24, 1975; § 1, Ord. 1702, eff. November 11, 1988; § 3, Ord. 2239, eff. 7/5/2024)
A street tree not otherwise regulated by §3-8.01 through §3-8.08 of this Code may be removed provided said tree is replaced in compliance with all provisions of this article.
(§ 1, Ord. 1252, eff. September 24, 1975; § 8, Ord. 1690, eff. 8/19/1988; § 1, Ord. 1702, eff. November 11, 1988)
All street trees installed pursuant to the provisions of this article shall be at the expense of the property owner.
(§ 1, Ord. 1252, eff. September 24, 1975; § 1, Ord. 1702, eff. November 11, 1988)
a. 
The City shall be responsible for the trimming of all street trees which the City planted or required to be planted, and shall also be responsible for the repair of sidewalk damages caused by such street trees. The City's responsibility for trimming shall be limited to that trimming necessary to ensure the safe movement of pedestrians and vehicle traffic; all maintenance and additional trimming shall be the responsibility of the property owner or person in possession of the street tree.
b. 
The property owner or person in possession shall be responsible for the maintenance and trimming of all street trees planted by, or at the request of the property owner, or "volunteers" which exist on the property, or are planted or have been planted without first obtaining a planting permit pursuant to Section 7-1.404. The property owner or person in possession of such street trees shall also be responsible for sidewalk damage caused by such trees and shall be required to repair said sidewalk pursuant to Streets & Highways Code Sections 5601 et seq. and Sec. 7-2.102 of this code. It shall be a public nuisance for any property owner or person in possession of such street trees to permit branches of the trees to restrict access or impede the public use of adjacent sidewalks or streets or prevent access of City street sweepers to clean the street. In the event of such public nuisance, the responsible person shall receive written notice of such nuisance directing that the tree shall be pruned approximately within 10 days from receipt of notice. The City, at its option, may prune the tree in the event the responsible person has not complied with the notice, all at the cost of the responsible person.
c. 
Nothing in this section is intended to relieve any person of any obligation to plant or maintain street trees which may exist pursuant to written agreement with the City or as a condition of development approval.
(§ 1, Ord. 1252, eff. September 24, 1975; § 1, Ord. 1643, eff. April 24, 1986; § 9, Ord. 1690, eff. 8/19/1988; § 1, Ord. 1702, eff. November 11, 1988; § 1, Ord. 1847, eff. 11/3/1994)