10.136 Preservation of Protected Trees

Three examples of failed 'tree protection' on local construction sites.

Where a property owner plans to retain protected trees on a site to be developed or otherwise disturbed in a manner that may affect protected trees, the following requirements must be met:

(a) Tree protection plan. A tree protection plan submitted to the building official must include the following:

(1) A site plan drawn to scale, indicating the location of land disturbance, clearing, grading, trenching, tree protection zones, proposed underground utilities, staging areas for parking, material storage, concrete washout, and debris burn and burial holes where these areas might affect tree protection, and areas where soil compaction is likely to occur in a tree protection zone due to traffic or materials storage.

(2) A complete tree survey in accordance with the requirements set forth in Section 51A-10.132.

(3) Detailed drawings of any of the following tree protection measures that will be used during development.

(A) Tree protection fencing. Tree protection fences must be a minimum of four feet high, constructed with adequate, durable material (e.g. orange plastic construction fencing)

approved by the building official, and located at the drip line or the edge of the critical root zone, whichever is farthest from the trunk, unless the building official determines that a fence line closer to the trunk will not be likely to result in damage to the tree. For purposes of this subsection, "drip line" means a vertical line that runs from the outermost portion of the crown of a tree to the ground.

(B) Erosion control fencing or screening. All protected trees or stands of trees, and tree protection zones must be protected from the sedimentation of erosion material. Silt screening must be placed along the outer uphill edge of tree protection zones.

(D) Transplanting specifications.

(E) Tree wells and aeration systems.

(F) Staking specifications.

(b) Implementation of tree protection plan.

(1) The responsible party must install and maintain all tree protection measures indicated in the approved plan prior to and throughout the land disturbance process and the construction phase.

(2) No person may disturb the land or perform construction activity until the required tree protection measures have been inspected by the building official.

(3) The responsible party must mulch areas where soil compaction is likely to occur as indicated on the plan with a minimum four-inch layer of processed pine bark or wood chips, or a six-inch layer of pine straw.

(4) If a cut is made to the root of a tree that is not intended to be removed or seriously injured as indicated on the plan, the cut must be made at a 90 degree angle.

(5) The responsible party must tunnel utilities if utilities are to run through a tree protection zone, rather than being placed along corridors between tree protection zones.

(c) Damage to protected trees. Where the building official has determined that irreparable damage has occurred to trees within tree protection zones, the responsible party must remove and replace those trees. (Ord. Nos. 22053; 25155)

1. Intent to preserve trees while creating parking around them often fails to deliver on expectations. 2. How do you expect to use fill material for any base with a dead tree creating a cavity? 3. Bulldozers at the hands of over-eager developers with no permits (or a plan for that matter) are dangerous. This site was never developed after spending only a few hours on a Saturday removing multiple large trees.