[Ord. No. 585; Ord. No. 1357, 6-29-1999; Ord. No. 1429, 5-29-2001; Ord. No. 2553, 6-25-2024]
a. 
No tree with a diameter at breast height (DBH) of 2.5 inches or more shall be removed if located a distance greater than 25 feet from any construction unless approved by the Board.
b. 
All areas of tree removal shall be indicated on the development plan.
c. 
All provisions of any other applicable ordinance of the Township regulating the removal of trees shall be complied with. The terms used in this section shall have meanings as defined in § 21-3 and, if not defined in § 21-3, as defined in Chapter 16, Shade Tree Protection.
d. 
When regulated trees are removed without proper approvals from the Board or Township, the trees shall be replaced to the satisfaction of the Zoning Enforcement Officer in accordance with the following table:
Replacement of Trees
DBH (inches) of Tree Removed
Number of Replacement Trees
6 to 12.99
1
13 to 22.99
2
23 to 32.99
3
33 and greater
4
Replacement Tree Type
Minimum Replacement Caliper
Street tree
3 inch
Deciduous
2.5 inch
Evergreen
6 foot
All replacement trees shall be of nursery grade quality, balled and burlapped. Burlap and wire shall be removed before planting. Replacement trees shall be consistent with the type and species removed from the site and shall be planted in accordance with accepted nursery practice. Tree species shall be in accordance with § 16-3.1, Subparagraph b3, Attachment 1.
e. 
Any tree along the side of any road which was planted specifically for street shade tree purposes shall not be removed without the approval of the Shade Tree Commission.
[Ord. No. 585; Ord. No. 1357, 6-29-1999; Ord. No. 2553, 6-25-2024]
a. 
All trees to be preserved on the site shall be protected with fences or similar suitable barriers to protect the critical root radius and trunks.
b. 
Prior to any tree removal, all trees must be flagged and clearing areas identified for field inspection by the Engineering Department or other approved representative of the Township.
c. 
Tree Protection During Construction.
1. 
Tree protection measures and the limit of disturbance line shown on the approved plan shall be provided in the field with fencing or other similar suitable barrier and verified by the Engineering Department or other designated official prior to soil disturbance.
2. 
Protective barriers shall not be supported by the plants they are protecting but shall be self-supporting. Barriers shall be minimum for four feet high and last until construction is complete.
3. 
Chain link fence may be required for tree protection if warranted by site conditions or variety of the plant.
4. 
Tree protection fencing shall be firmly secured no less than the critical root radius (CRR) from the trunk determined by multiplying the diameter at breast height (DBH) of the tree by 1.5 feet. For example: a tree with a six-inch DBH would have a CRR = 6 inches x 1.5 feet per inch = 9 feet.
5. 
The grade of the land located within the CRR shall not be raised or lowered more than six inches unless compensated by welling or retaining wall methods. In no event shall welling or retaining wall methods be less than the critical root radius from the trunk of a tree.
6. 
No soil stockpiling or storage of building materials, construction equipment or vehicles shall be permitted within the critical root radius of any remaining trees, whichever is greater.
7. 
Any clearing as shown on the approved plan within the CRR of the trunk of a remaining tree shall be done by hand-operated equipment.
8. 
When it is necessary for curbing or utility line installation within the CRR of a remaining tree, damage to roots shall be kept to the minimum necessary for proper installation of the line and trunk protection shall be installed prior to construction as per the Township construction detail.
[Ord. No. 1429, 5-29-2001; Ord. No. 2553, 6-25-2024]
Each application to the Planning Board or Zoning Board of Adjustment for approval of a major or minor subdivision or any site plan that requires the removal of trees shall include an application for a tree removal permit. The application and development proposal shall conform to the following provisions:
a. 
Application Form. The application form shall be available from the Zoning Enforcement Officer and shall include the following information:
1. 
Name and address of the owner of the premises and status of legal entity (individual, partnership, corporation of this or any other state, etc.).
2. 
Status of the applicant with respect to land (owner, lessee, tenant, purchaser, under contract, etc.).
3. 
Name and address of the applicant for the permit if other than the owner, accompanied by the owner's written consent.
4. 
Description of the premises where removal is to take place, including lot and block numbers and street address.
5. 
A list of all street trees to be removed with a DBH of 2.5 inches or more and all non-street trees to be removed with a DBH of six inches or more, identified by size and species, including total number of each species to be removed.
6. 
Purpose for tree removal (construction, street or roadway, driveway, utility easement, recreation areas, patio, parking lot, etc.).
7. 
Proof that there are no delinquent property taxes or assessments due on the property for which the application is submitted.
8. 
Such other information as may be deemed necessary in order to effectively process and decide such application.
9. 
Trees that had been removed within the past two years.
b. 
Tree Identification Plan. The following information shall be provided on a tree identification plan prepared in accordance with this chapter:
1. 
Base Information.
(a) 
Location of tree canopy within the property boundaries.
(b) 
Location of individual street trees with a DBH of 2.5 inches or more and all non-street trees with a DBH of six inches or more, identified by size and species within the area of development/limit of disturbance.
(c) 
Location of individual street trees with a DBH 2.5 inches or more and all non-street trees with a DBH of six inches or more, identified by size and species 30 feet beyond a delineated limit of disturbance line.
(d) 
Location of individual existing trees noted for preservation within the area of development/limit of disturbance identified by size and species.
(e) 
Clear labeling of the area intended for tree removal.
(f) 
Tree protection details and limit of disturbance line.
(g) 
Anticipated areas subject to regrading.
2. 
Design Requirements.
(a) 
Only those trees necessary to permit the construction of buildings, structures, streets, driveways, infrastructure and other authorized improvements shall be removed. Existing vegetation shall be preserved to the greatest extent feasible.
(b) 
No more than 60% of the existing tree canopy within the property boundaries shall be removed. Existing tree canopy comprised of the 40% minimum shall be noted for preservation.
(c) 
No street tree with a DBH of 2.5 inches or more and no non-street tree with a DBH of six inches or more shall be removed unless the applicant shall replace trees removed in accordance with the table in § 21-45.1.
(d) 
Landscape standards may be waived by the Board when trees and/or shrub masses are preserved and/or relocated on site that essentially duplicate the landscape requirements contained in this section.
(e) 
The approving authority shall have the option of requiring a conservation easement to protect any or all trees or tree canopy areas to remain on site.
[Ord. No. 1476, 8-28-2001; Ord. No. 2553, 6-25-2024]
a. 
All required replacement trees shall be planted on the site from which the trees were removed. Relief from any portion or all of the on-site tree replacement requirements may be granted by the Board. Any relief shall be based upon practical physical difficulties and undue hardship related to conditions of the site from which the trees are to be removed. The Board may solicit the comments and recommendations of the Township Engineer and/or Shade Tree Commission in determining whether the relief requested by the applicant should be granted.
b. 
In lieu of planting replacement trees, the Board may permit the applicant to make a contribution to be deposited in the Township Tree Fund as established by this chapter. The contribution, in lieu of planting trees, shall be $300 for each tree and shall be deposited in the Township Tree Fund prior to the Township issuing any building permits for the development.
[Ord. No. 1476, 8-28-2001; Ord. No. 2553, 6-25-2024]
a. 
There shall be established by this chapter a Township Tree Fund for the purposes set forth in this chapter.
b. 
All funds collected from an applicant as a contribution in lieu of replanting trees shall be deposited in a dedicated account clearly designated as the Bernards Township Tree Fund. All funds so deposited shall be used exclusively for the planting of trees. This fund may be used to plant trees on public property and rights-of-way, including but not limited to public parks, public schools and public buildings.