06/27/2001 Env Bd Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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• The same year, a "Builders Day" was held. All builders, developers, board and elected officials, and staff were invited to this meeting. The meeting was well attended. As part of this meeting, the new Shade Tree Ordinance and Tree Preservation Policy was introduced. The main issue in 1990 that prompted staff to pursue a Shade Tree Ordinance and Preservation Policy was concern for tree disease control, and building and house construction practices that slowly or sometimes rapidly killed trees on new construction sites. Homeowners pay higher prices for wooded lots, and were rapidly loosing their invested dollars because of construction practices. The secondary reason for tree preservation was to, as best as possible, develop a plan that maximized the overall number of trees in a development area in order to maintain the cultural and environmental characteristics of areas of the City (neighborhoods). Staff and the Shade Tree Ordinance Committee considered a Tree Preservation Ordinance instead of a policy. It was decided the policy, bound into effect by the Shade tree ordinance, gave the City the flexibility needed to effectively accomplish the goals of Tree Preservation. Much concern was expressed for individual property owner rights. The Shade Tree Ordinance of 1991 has been enforced for 10 years. The procedures are easy to understand. Developers must present a tree preservation plan as part of the development approval process. Builders must submit a tree preservation plan before they are issued a building permit. The process of tree preservation planning must begin in the initial concept and grading plan development. The same is true for any of the other resource and ecological preservation issues. After an overall Tree Preservation Plan is accepted by the City, Developers are not allowed to disturb the ground until all tree preservation plan elements have been implemented, such as protective fencing installment. Once a development area is roughed in, developers either start building houses and /or business buildings themselves or by selling Tots to builders. In the case of residential developments, usually there is a person (future resident) that has purchased a lot and contracted to build a house with builder. The focus from this point on becomes that of the new residents' investment. Builders are required to submit a tree preservation plan before a building permit is let. The plan is usually submitted on a certificate of survey. The survey certificates have elevations written on them. Like development preservation plans, the builders must locate all significant trees on the site, construction plans, an indication of tree save /removal trees, fencing and signage areas, access points, utility access areas, other tree save procedures that may be unique to each site, and most importantly the name and phone number of the house buyer (new resident). Most important, because the trees belong to the new resident, the resident has made an investment. Most residents are unaware of what construction can do to their trees. Almost all of them • Page 2