[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:
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.
