Item 07C Ord 785 2nd Reading Tree Ordinance

Home Browse Search

1127.01: PURPOSE. The purpose of this chapter is to identify trees and woodlots which are to be preserved in general and saved when development is occurring or at any point thereafter. It is the City's goal to ensure that development is compatible with the natural environment and is accommodated without destroying desirable environmental features and natural amenities. It is not the City's intent, however, to preserve significant trees or woodlots where substandard subdivision design, poor drainage, excess slope in streets and driveways or inefficient utility construction would result. 1127.02: DEFINITIONS: When used in this Chapter, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning: DRIP LINE: The imaginary line at the outer edge of a tree or shrub, the point where water would drip to the ground from the outermost branches or leaves. HIGH VALUE TREES: Any tree from the list below. ■ Birches (River & Paper) ■ Black Walnut ■ Catalpa ■ Cherry ■ All Firs ■ Flowering Crabapples & Hawthorns ■ Hackberry ■ Hybrid American Elm ■ Ironwood ■ Japanese Tree Lilac ■ All Lindens ■ All Maples ■ All Oaks ■ Ohio Buckeye ■ Pines (except Jack) ■ All Spruce ROOT ZONE: That area of effective tree rooting (out to the extent of the branches plus 5 five feet). SIGNIFICANT TREE: A significant tree is defined as any live healthy High Value tree measuring eight (8) inches in diameter or greater, measured at 4.5 feet above the ground. SPECIMEN TREE: Any High Value Tree over 16 inches in diameter, or any other species over 30 inches in diameter. TREE CROWN: The upper part of a tree, including the branches and leaves. WOODLOT: An area of trees of significant or specimen size on at least twenty-five (25) percent of the total lot area.