§ 9-38.050. Guidelines for Trees Associated with Urban Development

A.

Desirability of preserving protected trees. Initial project layout, design, and grading shall recognize the desirability of preserving protected trees with appropriate modifications and adjustments to accommodate preservation and maintenance by locating the best candidates in areas where preservation is feasible.

B.

Appropriate safeguard considerations. Design of the grading and other improvements shall reflect consideration of the following safeguards:

1.

Location in minimum growing areas as required by individual species;

2.

No disruption or removal of structural or feeder roots;

3.

Fencing of trees at or beyond their drip lines during grading and construction activities;

4.

No filling, cutting, development, or compaction of soils within the drip line; and

5.

Other measures required by the species of tree to be preserved as recommended by the consulting arborist, horticulturist or landscape architect.

C.

Practicality of preserving all healthy trees.

1.

It is recognized that the complete preservation of healthy trees may sometimes conflict with normal land developmental considerations (e.g., proper circulation, drainage, grading, safety and provisions of utilities).

2.

Within a given development, it may not be practical to preserve all healthy trees and therefore the City and the developer shall be willing to compromise the goal of complete tree preservation in order to address other public safety and design concerns.

3.

In these instances, the design of the development shall address preservation of the most desirable and significant of the healthy trees and the developer shall utilize creative land planning techniques to achieve this end.

D.

Proposed preservation plan.

1.

The Commission, when reviewing development plans, shall determine the adequacy and appropriateness of the proposed preservation plan.

2.

When conditioning a project to relocate a tree, the Commission shall consider the technical feasibility of relocation, the cost of relocation versus the appraised value of the tree, and the proposed new location of the tree.

a.

If a tree is to be relocated to public property, the applicant shall submit to the City a written commitment to accept and maintain the tree from the public agency which will receive the tree.

b.

The public agency shall have the option of refusing acceptance of the tree.

c.

Trees shall be relocated by arborists with experience in moving mature trees.

3.

Following approval of a development, the developer shall submit grading and precise landscaping plans detailing the approved preservation plan.

4.

The locations of all protected trees shall be indicated on these plans by the number of the tree as described in the tree study, with details indicating which trees shall be preserved or relocated, and which shall be removed.

5.

The plans shall be approved by the Director and the City Engineer.

6.

Before use inauguration, the preserved trees shall be trimmed for balance, structural integrity, and ornamental appearance as recommended in the tree report for the project, subject to the satisfaction of the Director.

E.

Preservation of Blue Gum trees. Preservation of Blue Gum trees (Eucalyptus globulus) is not required within parkways, medians, or planter areas of less than 12 feet in width, exclusive of sidewalks, adjacent to structures, or within parcels with single-family detached residences, closer than 75 feet from the nearest structure intended for human habitation.

F.

Precise vertical and horizontal locations. The precise vertical and horizontal locations, plus or minus one foot, of all protected trees shall be shown on the site plan as part of the initial application for any development project, unless that project would involve no exterior construction activities.

(§ 5, Ord. 1085, eff. January 6, 2006)