[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Shade Tree
and Park Commissioners of the Borough of Paramus 2-28-1952 as Ord.
No. ST-1; amended in its entirety 3-11-1992. Amendments noted where
applicable.]
A.
COMMISSION
PERMITS
PERSON
STREET
TREE
As used in this chapter, the terms hereinafter set
forth shall be defined and deemed to have the following meanings:
The Board of Shade Tree and Park Commissioners of the Borough
of Paramus, including any of its duly appointed members and any of
its duly authorized agents or employees.
Written permission of the Commission. Whenever, pursuant
to any provision of this chapter, the Commission shall have occasion
to pass upon an application for a permit, it shall, in determining
whether or not to issue such permit, take into consideration the nature,
species, size, age and condition of any tree involved; the location
thereof in the street or park; the planting, care, protection, maintenance
or removal procedures involved; the public safety and welfare; and
the improvement and advancement of the shade tree plan or program
of the Commission.
Any individual, firm, partnership or corporation, or any
combination thereof. Where, in the proper context, it is so required,
this term may be construed to designate the plural as well as the
singular.
Any road, avenue, street or highway dedicated to the public
use for street purpose, regardless of whether or not it has been formally
accepted by the Borough of Paramus. A street shall be deemed to include
all portions lying between the dedicated or established right-of-way
lines and/or planting easement thereof, said lines being identical
with the front property lines of lands abutting the street.
Any tree, shrub or plant or any root, branch, flower or other
part thereof that is located in or upon any street or park.
B.
Any term or provision of this chapter that contemplates,
directs, regulates or prohibits the doing of any act may, in applicable
eases and where the context so requires, be construed to include the
causing, allowing, permitting or suffering of such act to be done
by others under the direction, control or supervision of the person
charged therewith. Every such act shall be deemed to be within the
scope of this chapter, regardless of whether it is a deliberate, intentional
or purposeful act or a careless, negligent or unintentional act.
No person shall, without a permit, do any of
the following acts:
A.
Cut, prune, break, injure, remove, disturb or interfere
in any way with any tree.
B.
Spray with any chemical any tree or near a tree to
cause injury or death to said tree.
C.
Fasten any rope, wire, sign or other device to a tree
or to any guard about such tree.
D.
Remove or injure any guard or device placed to protect
any tree.
E.
Close or obstruct any open space provided about the
base of a tree to permit the access of air, water and fertilizer to
the roots of such tree.
No person shall plant any tree or shrub in any
park or street without a permit.
A.
No person shall, without a permit, place or maintain
in any street or park any stone, cement or other sidewalk or any stone,
cement or other substance which shall impede the free access of air
and water to the roots of any tree.
B.
Where any tree is to be surrounded by pavement of
stone, cement, asphalt or any other substance tending to impede the
free access of air and water to the roots of the tree, no portion
of such pavement shall be nearer to any portion of the base of the
trunk than four feet.
A.
No person shall place salt, brine, oil or any other
substance injurious to plant growth in any street or park in such
a manner as to injure any tree.
B.
No person shall build any fire or station any tar
kettle, road roller, fuel oil dispensing truck or other engine in
any street or any other place in such a manner that the heat, vapors,
fuel or fumes therefrom may injure any tree.
C.
Every person having or maintaining any underground
utility lines in any street or park shall maintain such lines in such
a manner as will safeguard the trees against any damage therefrom
and shall make periodical adjustments whenever necessary to prevent
damage to trees.
A.
In the erection, alteration or repair of any structure
or building, the owner, contractor or other person in charge thereof
shall place such guards around all nearby trees as will effectually
prevent injury to such trees.
B.
No person shall do any excavating within four feet
of any tree without a permit.
C.
No person shall use or operate any power shovel, bulldozer
or any other implement or tool in such a manner as to damage or destroy
any tree.
A.
No person shall string any wires in or through a public
park or property without a permit.
B.
Every person having or maintaining any electric telephone,
telegraph, cable television or other wires running in or through a
street or park shall securely fasten and maintain such wires in such
manner as will safeguard all trees against any damage therefrom and
shall make periodical adjustments whenever necessary to prevent damage
to all trees.
C.
No person shall, without a permit, attach or fasten
any wire, insulator or other device for holding any wire to any tree.
D.
Whenever the Commission shall deem it necessary to
prune or remove any tree, any person having a wire running in or through
any street or park shall temporarily remove such wire within 24 hours
after the service upon the owner of said wire or his agent of a written
notice to do so.
E.
Any public utility or its agents may, upon receiving
(written) permission from the Commission at least 72 hours prior to
the start of work, prune or remove trees for line clearance of utility
wires in nonemergency situations pursuant to a line clearance program.
F.
Any public utility or its agents may undertake emergency
tree work to restore electrical service or spot work to prevent interruption
of electrical, telephone, telegraph, cable television or other wire
services. In such event, the utility will notify the Commission of
said work within three business days of its beginning.
A.
No person shall enter upon any portion of the lawn
or ground within a public park or other public place when notified
by a sign placed in such a park or public place or by a guardian of
such park or public place or by a police officer not to enter upon
such lawn or ground.
B.
No person shall leave or deposit any paper or other
waste material in any public park, except in such receptacle as may
be provided therein for that purpose.
C.
No person shall, except at such time and under such
regulations as may be designated by the Commission, play at any game
in a public park.
D.
No person shall, without a permit, place any booth,
stand or other structure or station wagon, car or other vehicle in
any public park except in the area prescribed.
E.
No person shall offer any article for sale, display
any advertising device or distribute any commercial circulars or cards
or political activity and/or signs in a public park.
No person shall prevent, delay or in any manner
interfere with the Commission or its authorized agents in the performance
of their lawful duties.
Any person who violates any of the provisions
of this chapter or who fails to comply with the terms and provisions
of any permit issued pursuant hereto shall, upon conviction in municipal
court thereof, pay a fine of not less than $200 or to exceed $1,500,
at the discretion of the court. Each day that a violation shall continue
shall constitute a separate offense.
In addition to the penalties authorized by § 453-10 of this chapter, the Commission may require a person who removes or otherwise destroys a tree in violation of a municipal ordinance to pay a replacement assessment to the municipality. The replacement assessment shall be the value of the tree as determined by the appraisal of a trained forester or certified tree expert retained by the Commission for that purpose. In lieu of an appraisal, the Commission may adopt a formula and schedule based upon the number of square inches contained in a cross section of the trunk of the tree multiplied by a predetermined value per square inch, not to exceed $27 per square inch. The square inch cross section shall be calculated from the diameter at breast height and, if there is a multiple stem tree, then each trunk shall be measured and an average shall be determined for the tree. For the purposes of this chapter, "diameter at breast height" shall mean the diameter of the tree taken at a point 4 1/2 feet above ground level. The Commission shall modify the value of the tree based upon its species variety, location and its condition at the time of removal or destruction.