[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee of the Township of Plainsboro 8-8-1983
as Ord. No. 0-83-14. Amendments noted where applicable.]
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
- PUBLIC TREE
- Any living tree or shrubbery located on lands owned by the Township of Plainsboro or by any other governmental body within a public right-of-way.
No person shall do or cause to be done any of the following acts affecting
the trees or shrubbery planted or growing naturally within the highways or
within public places under the jurisdiction of the township, except with permission
obtained from the Township Engineer:
A.
Cut, trim, break, girdle, disturb the roots of or injure
any living tree or damage, misuse or remove any structure or device placed
to support or protect any tree.
B.
Plant or remove any living tree or climb any living tree
with spikes.
C.
Fasten any rope, wire, electrical attachment, sign, reflectors
or other device to a tree or to any guard around a tree.
D.
Close or obstruct any open space around the base of a
tree which permits the access of air, water or fertilizer to the roots of
the tree.
E.
Pile any building material or make any mortar or cement
within six feet of tree.
F.
Change the grade of the soil within the limits of the
lateral spread of the branches of a tree (dripline).
G.
Place any guy wire, brace, rope or other device on any
tree in such a manner as to injure it.
H.
Hitch or fasten an animal to a tree on any street or
to any guard or support provided for a tree or permit an animal to bite or
otherwise injure any tree.
I.
Permit any brine, petroleum-based product or injurious
chemical or liquid to come in contact with the trunk or roots of a tree on
any street.
J.
Operate or park heavy machinery, e.g., trucks, bulldozers,
graders, etc., within the dripline of any tree as defined above or carry out
scaping or excavation in any such manner as to expose or endanger the roots
of such trees.
K.
Place fill, gravel, sand or other such material within
the dripline of any tree.
L.
Build a fire or station any tar kettle or engine in such
a manner that heat or noxious fumes will penetrate the dripline of any nearby
tree.
M.
Dam or obstruct any watercourse so as to result in flooding
of adjacent treed areas or artificially change the water table near publicly
owned trees.
N.
Create impervious surfaces within the limits of the dripline.
A.
Every person having control over any wire or cable for
the transmission of an electric current along a street shall at all times
guard all trees through which or near which such wire or cable passes and
shall protect the tree from any injury from the wire or cable or from the
electric current carried by it. The device or means used shall in every case
be subject to approval by the Township Engineer. In addition, all utility
companies or cable companies shall use proper horticultural practices when
pruning trees.
B.
The Township Engineer may grant to public utility companies
a blanket permit for tree pruning for line clearance and for the installation
and maintenance of subsurface and aboveground plant construction if there
is interference with or endangerment to street trees.
Any person desiring relief from any of the above provisions may appeal
to the Township Engineer, who, when practical, shall consult with the Shade
Tree Committee prior to granting relief.
