In addition to the requirements of Chapter
135, Subdivision and Land Development, § 135-39, Grading, and Chapter
121, Stormwater Management and Erosion Control, §
121-5, Erosion control requirements, the conservation measures listed below shall be taken during site preparation activities. At the discretion of the Township and in addition to the measures listed below, the Township may require a prior-to-construction meeting with the applicant or site contractor to further determine methods to minimize environmental damage.
A. Protection of vegetation from mechanical injury and
grading change.
(1) All trees and vegetation to be retained within 25
feet of a building site, parking area or other proposed improvement
shall be protected from equipment damage by chain-link or wire mesh
fence. Tree protection fencing shall be four feet to six feet in height
and anchored two feet in the ground. Fencing shall have clear signage
stating that area is in tree protection zone and no disturbance can
occur without authorization from the Township. Fencing around trees
shall be placed at the dripline. The required fencing may be placed
within the dripline if the applicant can demonstrate, to the satisfaction
of the Township, that the required work cannot be performed without
utilizing the area within the dripline and that appropriate measures
are being taken to protect the tree(s). In all cases, the Township
Arborist shall have the authority to specify appropriate measures
necessary for tree preservation.
[Amended 11-19-2003 by Ord. No. 3694; 7-19-2023 by Ord. No. 4276]
(a) The holes for the posts shall be hand-excavated taking care not to
disturb roots larger than 1.5 inches in diameter. If necessary, post
spacing may be adjusted to not damage or injure roots.
(b) A minimum of one three-foot-wide lockable gate shall be provided
for each fenced area. The location of the gates shall be approved
by the Township.
(c) The tree protective zone signage shall have rigid or metal sheet
signage legibly printed with nonfading lettering. The signage shall
be weatherproof and at least 10 inches by 12 inches in area. The signage
shall read: "TREE PROTECTION ZONE (TPZ) - KEEP OUT, No grade change,
material storage, or equipment is permitted within this TPZ. The tree
protection barrier must not be removed without the authorization of
the Township. Call the Township to report violations."
(d) One tree protection zone sign shall be installed per fence side spaced
every 50 feet.
(2) Heavy equipment operators shall not damage existing
tree trunks and root systems by driving heavy equipment within or
otherwise disturbing the area circumscribed by the dripline of any
tree. In addition, roots shall not be cut or disturbed within the
area circumscribed by the dripline of any tree. If there is no alternative
to locating a utility line within the tree dripline, it is strongly
encouraged that tunneling, rather than trenching, be used to minimize
potential damage to tree root systems. In such cases, the Township
Arborist shall determine the most desirable location for the survival
of the tree(s). Where trenching is unavoidable, trenched holes shall
be filled as soon as possible and tamped lightly to avoid the creation
of air spaces.
(3) Tree trunks and exposed roots damaged during construction
shall be protected from further damage by fencing or other structural
barrier. Treatment of damaged areas shall be dictated by the nature
of the injury, e.g., damaged bark shall be cut back to a point where
the bark is intact and tight to the tree; exposed roots shall be cleaned
up and covered with topsoil. In such cases, the Township Arborist
shall have the authority to determine the treatment technique(s) most
suitable to the damaged area. In addition, where stipulated by the
Township Arborist, liquid or dry fertilizer shall be applied to trees
with disturbed root zones to compensate for loss of roots.
[Amended 7-19-2023 by Ord. No. 4276]
(4) Trees shall not be used for roping, cables, signs,
fencing or lighting. Nails and spikes shall not be driven into trees.
(5) The area around the base of existing trees and vegetation
shall be left open. No impervious cover, storage of equipment, materials,
debris or fill shall be allowed within the dripline of any existing
tree(s). However, impervious surface may partially extend into the
dripline if it can be demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Township
that there is no other location feasible and appropriate measures
are being taken to protect the tree or vegetation.
[Amended 11-19-2003 by Ord. No. 3694]
(6) Grade changes to occur at any location on the property
shall not result in an alteration to soil or drainage conditions which
would adversely affect existing vegetation to be retained following
site disturbance, unless adequate provisions, approved by the Township,
are made to protect such vegetation and its root systems.
[Amended 11-19-2003 by Ord. No. 3694]
(7) The Township Arborist may, at his discretion, require that specimen plants with significant historic, visual or environmental qualities which would otherwise be removed during site preparation under the provisions of §
101-5C(2)(b) be transplanted elsewhere on the site.
(8) Should any existing vegetation on the site not scheduled or permitted to be removed be irreparably damaged during site preparation and die within 18 months of the conclusion of site disturbance activities, such vegetation shall be replaced with similar vegetation in accordance with the requirements of §
101-9A hereof.
[Amended 5-18-2022 by Ord. No. 4245]
B. Protection of vegetation from excavations.
(1) When digging trenches for utility lines or similar
uses, disturbance to the root zones of all woody vegetation shall
be minimized.
(2) If trenches must be excavated in the root zone, all
disturbed roots shall be pruned. Acceptable methods of root pruning
are soil excavation using air excavation, pressurized water, or hand
tools, then cutting the roots as cleanly as possible or using mechanical
root pruning tools (e.g., Dosko® or Vermeer® Root Pruner).
The trench shall be backfilled as quickly as possible, avoiding soil
compaction and the drying out of roots. Any trenches left open over
24 hours shall be covered with moisture-retaining materials (e.g.,
wet burlap, moist fill soil) and covered with tarpaulin to prevent
drying.
[Amended 7-19-2023 by Ord. No. 4276]
C. Protection of topsoil.
(1) No topsoil shall be removed from a site unless a sufficient
amount is retained to provide at least six inches of topsoil cover
over all of the site's exposed earth surfaces. In addition, sufficient
soil shall be retained for planting under this chapter.
[Amended 5-18-2022 by Ord. No. 4245]
(2) Topsoil removed by grading operations shall be redistributed
and stabilized as quickly as possible following the completion of
a project or project phase. All exposed earth surfaces shall be stabilized
by the following methods or approved equal:
(a)
Seeding, sodding, hydroseeding, geotextiles
or planting on slopes of 10% or less.
(b)
Sodding, hydroseeding, riprap or geotextiles
on slopes exceeding 10%.
(3) Grading and earthmoving operations shall be minimized
during the period November 15 to April 1, when revegetation of exposed
ground surfaces is difficult.
D. Protection during cleanup.
(1) All construction debris shall be hauled away from the property in conformance with the requirements of Chapter
92, Housing-Property Maintenance, unless provisions, acceptable to the Director of Building and Planning and the Township Engineer, are made for the on-site disposal of such debris.
[Amended 1-19-2002 by Ord. No. 3631]
(2) The Township Arborist shall require that fences and
barriers placed around woody vegetation during construction be removed
if they impede the growth and maintenance of such vegetation.
E. Protection of vegetation from hazardous and toxic
materials. No hazardous or toxic materials shall be stored within
or around groupings of woody vegetation or within 100 feet of the
dripline of any existing tree or within or around any other natural
feature addressed herein. Hazardous or toxic contaminants, including
but not limited to petroleum hydrocarbons, oils, pesticides, herbicides,
thinners, solvents, cleaners, abrasives, acids and bases are strictly
prohibited within or around woody vegetation or within 100 feet of
the dripline of any existing tree.