This chapter provides complete power and authority over all trees and
shrubs located within the street rights-of-way, parks, cemeteries, curblawns
and other public places of the City; and to trees and shrubs located on private
property that constitute a hazard or threat to the safe use by the public
of any street, sidewalk or public place in the City.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
CITY TREE
Any tree planted or growing on City-owned or maintained property.
CURBLAWN
The part of a street right-of-way, not covered by sidewalk or paving,
lying between the sidewalk proper and the curb or outside edge of the street.
DRIPLINE
An imaginary vertical line extending downward from the outermost
tips of the tree branches to the ground.
LARGE TREES
Those trees which attain a height of 45 feet or more at maturity.
Examples of large trees include but are not limited to: ash, green and white;
linden; maple, sugar, red and Norway; sweetgum, tulip; ginkgo and oak.
MEDIUM TREES
Those trees which attain a height of 30 feet to 45 feet at maturity.
Examples of medium trees include but are not limited to: golden rain, hawthorn,
Japanese tree lilac, Bradford pear, redspire pear, aristocratic pear, hybrid
locust and Columnar Norway Maple.
PROPERTY OWNER
The individual or party owning such property as shown on the Kalamazoo
City Assessor's records.
SHRUB
A low growing, multi-stemmed woody perennial.
SMALL TREE
Those trees which attain a height of less than 30 feet at maturity.
Examples of small trees include but are not limited to: flowering crabapple,
amur maple and flame maple.
STREET TREE
Any tree located on a street right-of-way or curblawn, but in most
cases between the sidewalk and the street.
TOPPING
The severe cutting back of tree limbs to stubs within the tree's
crown to such a degree so as to remove the normal canopy and disfigure the
tree.
TREE
A plant which can be grown with a single stem or trunk and is over
10 feet in height.
A Tree Committee shall be created and membership shall include representation
from the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, the Environmental Concerns Committee,
overhead and underground utility companies and the Public Services Department.
The purpose of the Tree Committee is to develop guidelines, subject to City
Commission approval, related to the implementation and enforcement of this
chapter and recommend modifications or changes as might become necessary to
the Director of Public Works.
In new subdivisions or when the development of commercial property occurs
by private enterprise, landscaping plans shall be submitted to the Public
Works Director or his/her designee who shall review the plans and may require
the developer to plant trees along any of the streets, parking lots, parks,
and other public places abutting lands henceforth developed and/or subdivided.
With the exception of appearance tickets, any enforcement or permitting
requirement of this chapter may be appealed in writing to the City Manager's
Office.