Skip to main content
Loading…
This section is included in your selections.

Significant trees are defined and shall be retained as follows:

(1) Definition. Significant trees are those trees which fall into the following categories:

(a) healthy trees over twenty-five (25) feet in height;

(b) trees over ten (10) feet in height which form a continuous canopy.

(2) Retention. Significant trees shall be retained to the maximum extent possible.

(a) Minor Site Plan Changes Required by the City. The city may require minor alterations in the arrangement of buildings and other elements of the proposed development in order to achieve the maximum retention of significant trees, but the city may not require an alteration which will result in an unreasonable added expenditure to the applicant or in any decrease in the number of units or bulk of structures permitted.

(b) Replacement of Removed Significant Trees. If any significant trees on the subject property are to be removed as a result of the development, the city may require the applicant to plant trees on the subject property. The maximum number of trees that the city may require the applicant to plant is three (3) times the number of significant trees that are removed. The trees that are planted must be at least eight (8) feet in height and two (2) inches in diameter as measured one (1) foot above grade. When determined appropriate by the city planner to meet the purposes of this Chapter, he or she may specify the species of trees to be planted.

(c) Protection Techniques. In order to provide conditions likely to result in the retention of significant trees, the applicant shall comply with the following requirements:

(i) The applicant shall not excavate within the area defined by the drip line of any tree to be retained.

(ii) During the period of construction when a significant tree will be endangered, the applicant shall erect a temporary but immovable four (4) foot high sturdy enclosure generally corresponding to the drip line of each tree to be retained.

(iii) If the grade level adjoining a tree to be retained is to be raised, the applicant shall construct a dry rock wall or rock well around the tree. The diameter of this wall or well must be equal to the diameter of the tree plus five (5) feet.

(iv) The applicant shall not install impervious surface within the area defined by the drip line of any tree to be retained.

(v) The applicant shall prune branches and roots, fertilize, and water as appropriate.

(vi) The grade level around any tree to be retained shall not be lowered within the greater of the following areas:

a. the area defined by the drip line of the tree;

b. an area around the tree equal to one (1) foot in diameter for each one (1) inch of tree diameter as measured one (1) foot above grade.

(d) Alternative Techniques. The city planner may approve the use of alternative tree protection techniques if the significant trees will be protected to an equal or greater degree than by the techniques listed in 17.45.070(2)(c).

(e) Tree Restoration. If any tree designated for retention or required to be planted is damaged or destroyed during construction or within two (2) years following the end of construction through the fault of the applicant, the applicant shall obtain and plant in the immediate vicinity of the damaged or destroyed tree a replacement tree of the same species at least two (2) inches in diameter as measured one (1) foot above grade. The city may require the applicant to remove the damaged or destroyed tree. (Ord. 03-33 §22, 2003; Ord. 87-9 §1, 1987).