[HISTORY: Adopted by the Commissioners of the Town of Princess Anne 5-4-1992.
Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Property maintenance — See Ch. 115.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
Trees, shrubs, bushes and all other woody vegetation in public parks
having individual names and all areas owned by the town or to which the public
has free access as a park.
Trees, shrubs, bushes and all other woody vegetation on land lying
between property lines on either side of all streets, avenues or public ways
within the town.
No species other than those permitted by the Town Commissioners may
be planted as street trees.
A.
The town shall have the right to plant, prune, maintain
and remove trees, plants and shrubs within the right-of-way of all streets,
alleys, avenues, lanes, squares and other public ways for public safety or
to preserve or enhance the symmetry and beauty of such public grounds.
B.
The Town Commissioners may remove or cause or order to be removed any tree or part thereof which is in an unsafe condition or which by reason of its nature is injurious to sewers, electric power lines, gas lines, water lines or other public improvements or is affected with any injurious fungus, insect or other pest. This section does not prohibit the planting of street trees by adjacent property owners, provided that the selection and location of trees are permitted by the President and Commissioners of Princess Anne pursuant to § 149-2 above.
It shall be unlawful as a normal practice for any person, firm or town
department to top any street tree, park tree or other tree on public property.
"Topping" is defined as the severe cutting back of limbs to stubs larger than
three inches in diameter within the tree's crown to such a degree as
to remove the normal canopy and disfigure the tree. Trees severely damaged
by storms or other causes or certain trees under utility wires or other obstructions
where other pruning practices are impractical may be exempted from this provision
at the determination of the President and Commissioners of Princess Anne.
A.
Every owner of any tree overhanging any street or right-of-way
within the town shall prune the branches so that such branches do not obstruct
the light from any street lamp or obstruct the view of any street intersection
and so that there shall be a clear space of eight feet above the surface of
the street or sidewalks.
B.
Said owners shall remove all dead, diseased or dangerous
trees and broken or decayed limbs which constitute a menace to the safety
of the public.
C.
The town shall have the right to prune any tree or shrub
on private property when it interferes with the proper spread of light along
the street from a streetlight or interferes with visibility of any traffic
control device or sign.
The Town of Princess Anne shall have the right to cause the removal
of any dead or diseased trees on private property within the town when such
trees constitute a hazard to life and property or harbor insects or diseases
which constitute a potential threat to other trees within the town. The President
and Commissioners of Princess Anne will notify, in writing, the owners of
such trees. Removal shall be done by said owners at their own expense within
60 days after the date of service of notice. In the event of failure of owners
to comply with such provisions, the Town of Princess Anne shall have the authority
to remove such trees and charge the cost of removal on the owner's property
tax notice.
All stumps of street and park trees shall be removed below the surface
of the ground so that the top of the stump shall not project above the surface
of the ground.
