HomeMy Public PortalAbout1995-04 Tree Board and Tree Regulationse ORDINANCE 19954
AN ORDINANCE` ESTABLISIIING A
TREE BOARD AND REGULATING TREES
ALONG PUBLIC WAYS
SINCE THE SELECTION, PLANTING, MAINTENANCE AND REMOVAL OF TREES,
SHRUBS AND HEDGES ALONG PUBLIC WAYS ON PUBLIC GROUNDS AFFECT
SUCH ivIATTERS AS PEDESTRIAN AND VEHICLE SAFETY, CITY LIABILITY FOR
THAT SAFETY, THE LOCATION AND MAINTENANCE OF UTILITY SERVICES,
TREE MAINTENANCE COST, THE INCIDENCE OF TREE DISEASES, THE
GENERAL APPEARANCE OF THE CITYSCAPE, AND THE GENERAL QUALITY OF
LIFE OF THE CITY: AND SINCE IT IS DETERMINED THAT SUCH SELECTIONS,
PLANTING MAINTENANCE AND RED ARE MATTERS OF CITY -WIDE
CONCERN OVER WHICH THE CITY SHOULD EXERCISE THE CONTROL SET
FORTH IN THIS ORDINANCE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF GREENC ASTLE, INDIANA, TO WIT:
SECTION 1. - DEFINITIONS
STREET TREES: Street trees are herein defined as trees, shrubs, bushes, and
all other woodv vegetation on land lying between righo-of -ways on either side
of all streets, avenues, or ways within the City.
SECTION 2. - CREATION AND ESTABLISHIYIENT OF A CITY TREE BOARD
There is hereby created and established a City Tree Board under the direction of the
Greencastle City Council for the City of Greencastle which shall consist of five members,
citizens and residents of this city, three of whom shall be appointed by the mayor with the
approval of the City Council. The Greencastle Street Department Commissioner and a
member of the City Council shall be the remaining two members of the Tree Board. Any
application for permit or approval from the Tree Board shall be directed to the Office of the
City Clerk- Treasurer.
SECTION 3. - TERM OF OFFICE
The term of the three persons to be appointed by the mayor shall be three years except
" t h a t t h e t e r m o f o n e o f t h e m e m b e r s a p p o i n t e d t o t h e f i r s t b o a r d s h a l l b e f o r o n l y o n e y e a r
a n d t h e t e r m o f o n e m e m b e r o f t h e f i r s t b o a r d s h a l l b e f o r t w o y e a r s . I n t h e e v e n t t h a t a
v a c a n c y s h a l l o c c u r d u r i n g t h e t e r m o f a n y m e m b e r , h i s s u c c e s s o r s h a l l b e a p p o i n t e d b y t h e
m a y o r f o r t h e u n e x p i r e d p o r t i o n o f t h e t e r m .
S E C T I O N 4 . - C O M P E N S A T I O N
M e m b e r s o f t h e b o a r d s h a l l s e r v e w i t h o u t c o m p e n s a t i o n .
S E C T I O N 5 . - D U T I E S A N D R E S P O N S I B I L I T I E S
I t s h a l l b e t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y o f t h e B o a r d t o s t u d y , i n v e s t i g a t e , c o u n s e l , a n d d e v e l o p
a n d / o r u p d a t e a n n u a l l y , a n d a d m i n i s t e r a w r i t t e n p l a n f o r t h e c a r e , p r e s e r v a t i o n , p r u n i n g ,
p l a n t i n g , r e p l a n t i n g , r e m o v a l o r d i s p o s i t i o n o f t r e e s a n d s h r u b s a l o n g s t r e e t s a n d i n o t h e r
p u b l i c a r e a s . T h i s p l a n w i l l i n c l u d e w a y s t o d i s s e m i n a t e i n f o r m a t i o n f o r t h e c o n t i n u a t i o n o f
" c o m m u n i t y e d u c a t i o n c o n c e r n i n g t r e e c a r e . S u c h a p l a n w i l l b e p r e s e n t e d a n n u a l l y - o t h e
G r e e n c a s t l e C i t y C o u n c i l a n d u p o n t h e i r a c c e p t a n c e a n d a p p r o v a l s h a l l c o n s t i t u t e t h e o f f i c i a l
c o m p r e h e n s i v e c i t y t r e e p l a n f o r t h e C i t y o f G r e e n c a s t l e .
T h e G r e e n c a s t l e T r e e B o a r d s h a l l s e r v e a s a n a d v i s o r y c o u n c i l t o t h e G r e e n c a s t l e P a r k
C o m m i s s i o n e r s c o n c e r n i n g t h e c a r e , p r e s e r v a t i o n , p r u n i n g , p l a n t i n g , r e p l a n t i n g , r e m o v a l o r
d i s p o s i t i o n o f a l l p a r k t r e e s .
T h e B o a r d , w h e n r e q u e s t e d b y t h e G r e e n c a s t l e C i t y C o u n c i l , s h a l l c o n s i d e r , i n v e s t i g a t e ,
m a k e f i n d i n g , r e p o r t a n d r e c o m m e n d u p o n a n y s p e c i a l m a t t e r o r q u e s t i o n c o m i n g w i t h i n t h e
s c o p e o f i t s w o r k .
T h e G r e e n c a s t l e C o m m o n C o u n c i l w i l l b e r e s p o n s i b l e f o r r e v i e w i n g , a p p r o v i n g , a n d
e s t a b l i s h i n g f e e s c h e d u l e s f o r a l l p e r m i t s i s s u e d b y t h e C i t y T r e e B o a r d .
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" S E C T I O N 6 . - O P E R A T I O N
T h e B o a r d s h a l l c h o o s e i t s o w n o f f i c e r s , m a k e i t s o w n r u l e s a n d r e g u l a t i o n s , a n d k e e p
m i n u t e s o f i t s p r o c e e d i n g s w h i c h w i l l f o r m p e r m a n e n t r e c o r d s o n f i l e i n t h e c l e r k / t r e a s u r e r ' s
o f f i c e . A m a j o r i t y o f t h e m e m b e r s s h a l l b e a q u o r u m f o r t h e t r a n s a c t i o n o f b u s i n e s s .
S E C T I O N 7 . - T R E E S P E C I E S T O B E P L A N T E D
T h e C i t y T r e e B o a r d s h a l l d e v e l o p a n d m a i n t a i n a l i s t o f d e s i r a b l e t r e e s f o r p l a n t i n g
a l o n g s t r e e t s a n d p u b l i c w a y s . T h e d e s i r a b l e t r e e s f o r s t r e e t s w i l l b e l i s t e d i n t h r e e s i z e c l a s s e s
b a s e d o n h e i g h t : s m a l l ( u n d e r 2 0 f e e t ) , m e d i u m ( 2 0 t o 4 0 f e e t ) , a n d l a r g e ( o v e r 4 0 f e e t ) .
A n o t h e r l i s t w i l l b e m a i n t a i n e d f o r a c c e p t a b l e t r e e s t o b e p l a n t e d i n a r e a s w h e r e s i z e i s n o t
n e c e s s a r i l y a r e s t r i c t i o n . L i s t s o f t r e e s n o t s u i t a b l e f o r p l a n t i n g w i l l a l s o b e c r e a t e d b y t h e T r e e
B o a r d .
" S E C T I O N 3 . - S P A C I N G
T h e s p a c i n g o f s t r e e t t r e e s w i l l b e i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t h e t h r e e s i z e c l a s s e s l i s t e d i n
S e c t i o n 7 o f t h i s o r d i n a n c e , a n d n o t r e e s m a y b e p l a n t e d c l o s e r t o g e t h e r , t h a n t h e f o l l o w i n g :
s m a l l t r e e s , 3 0 f e e t ; m e d i u m t r e e s , 4 0 f e e t ; a n d l a r g e t r e e s , 5 0 f e e t ; e x c e p t i n s p e c i a l p l a n t i n g s
a p p r o v e d b y t h e T r e e B o a r d .
S E C T I O N 9 . - D I S T A N C E F R O M T H E C U R B A N D S I D E W A L K
T h e d i s t a n c e t r e e s m a y b e p l a n t e d f r o m c u r b s o r c u r b l i n e s a n d s i d e w a l k s w i l l b e i n
a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t h e t h r e e s i z e c l a s s e s l i s t e d i n S e c t i o n 7 o f t h i s o r d i n a n c e a n d n o t r e e s m a y
b e p l a n t e d c l o s e r t o a n y c u r b o r s i d e w a l k t h a n t h e f o l l o w i n g : s m a l l t r e e s , 2 f e e t ; m e d i u m
t r e e s , 2 . 3 f e e t ; a n d l a r g e t r e e s , 3 f e e t u n l e s s a p p r o v e d b y t h e T r e e B o a r d .
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SECTION 10. - DISTANCE FROM STREET CORNERS AND FIRE HYDRANTS
No street tree shall be planted within 35 feet of any street corner, measured from the
point of nearest intersecting curbs or curblines. No tree shall be planted within 10 feet of any
fire hydrant.
SECTION 11. - UTILITIES AND CABLE TV
No street trees other than those species qualifying as small trees on the list maintained
by the Tree Board may be planted under or within 12 feet of any overhead utility wire.
Maintenance trimming of street trees is permitted to maintain a safe operating clearance from
high voltage electric lines. It is also permissible to trim to provide access to poles, cable, and
other facilities as long as these plans are approved by the City Tree Board. Tree limbs that
grow near high voltage electrical conductors shall be maintained clear of such conductors by
e the electric utility company in compliance with any applicable franchise agreements. A
utility /cable TV tree trimming polio; must be reviewed by the City Tree Board annually or
when changes occur to their policy. The policy -would contain the maintenance trimming
schedule for the calendar ,year. Any emergency trimming should be in compliance with
Section 13.
SECTION 12. - PtiBLIC TREE CARE
The City shall have the right to plant, prune, maintain and remove trees, plants and
shrubs within the right -of -ways of all streets, alleys, avenues, lanes, parkways, highways,
squares and public grounds, as may be necessary to insure public safety or to preserve or
enhance the symmetry and beauty of public grounds. This section does not prohibit the
planting of street trees by adjacent property owners providing that the selection and location
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" o f s a i d t r e e s i s i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h S e c t i o n s 7 t h r o u g h 1 1 o f t h i s o r d i n a n c e a n d w i t h a p p r o v a l
f r o m t h e C i t y T r e e B o a r d a s t o s p e c i e s a n d l o c a t i o n o f t h e t r e e . W h e n e v e r a n y t r e e i s p l a n t e d
o r s e t o u t i n c o n f l i c t w i t h t h e p r o v i s i o n s o f t h i s o r d i n a n c e , i t w i l l b e l a w f u l f o r t h e
G r e e n c a s t l e S t r e e t C o m m i s s i o n e r t o r e m o v e o r c a u s e r e m o v a l o f t h e s a m e . T h e c o s t o f
r e m o v a l o f s u c h t r e e m a y b e c h a r g e d t o t h e p r o p e r t y o w n e r r e s p o n s i b l e f o r t h e p l a n t i n g
t h e r e o f .
T h e G r e e n c a s t l e T r e e B o a r d m a y r e m o v e o r c a u s e o r o r d e r t o b e r e m o v e d , a n y s t r e e t
t r e e o r p a r t t h e r e o f w h i c h i s i n u n s a f e c o n d i t i o n o r w h i c h b y r e a s o n o f i t s n a t u r e i s i n j u r i o u s
t o s e w e r s , e l e c t r i c p o w e r l i n e s , g a s l i n e s , w a t e r ' l i n e s , o r o t h e r p u b l i c i m p r o v e m e n t s , o r i s
i n f e c t e d w i t h a n y i n j u r i o u s f u n g u s , i n s e c t , o r o t h e r p e s t . P r o p e r t y o w n e r s : w i s h i n g t o d o
m a i n t e n a n c e o r r e m o v a l w o r k a t t h e i r o w n e x p e n s e o n c i t y t r e e s a d j a c e n t t o t h e i r p r o p e r t y
" m u s t o b t a i n a H o m e o w n e r s P e r m i t f r o m t h e G r e e n c a s t l e T r e e B o a r d w h i c h w o u l d v e r i f y t h a t
a l l t h e w o r k i s b e i n g d o n e b y i n s u r e d t r e e e x p e r t s a n d t h a t t r i m m i n g o r r e m o v a l i s b e i n g d o n e
f o r l e g i t i m a t e r e a s o n s . T h e a p p l i c a t i o n s f o r H o m e o w n e r s P e r m i t s w i l l b e a v a i l a b l e a t c i t y h a l l .
T h e y a r e s u b m i t t e d t o t h e c i t y c l e r k / t r e a s u r e r f o r r e f e r r a l a n d a p p r o v a l b y t h e C i t y T r e e
B o a r d .
I t w i l l b e u n a c c e p t a b l e p r o c e d u r e f o r t h e C i t y o r a n y p e r s o n o r f i r m t o t o p a c i t y s t r e e t .
t r e e . T o p p i n g i s d e f i n e d a s t h e s e v e r e c u t t i n g b a c k o f l i m b s t o s t u b s l a r g e r t h a n t h r e e i n c h e s
i n d i a m e t e r w i t h i n t h e t r e e ' s c r o w n t o s u c h a d e g r e e s o a s t o r e m o v e t h e n o r m a l c a n o p y a n d
d i s f i g u r e t h e t r e e . T r e e s n e a r u t i l i t y l i n e s o r i n a r e a s t h a t c a n n o t b e p r u n e d u s i n g a c c e p t a b l e
t e c h n i q u e s s h o u l d b e r e m o v e d a n d a n e w t r e e a p p r o p r i a t e t o t h e s i t e p l a n t e d .
` SECTION 13 - NEW DEVELOPMENT AND SUBDIVISIONS
It is the responsibility of the City Tree Board to work with the Plan Commission and
developers for the purpose of establishing a planting zone. The planting zone should be a
minimum of 4 feet running parallel to the city streets and free of utility facilities.
The Greencastle Tree Board will consult with the Plan Commission on issues of other
planting zones on any new developments prior to the Plan Commission's approval of
development plans.
SECTION 14 - EMERGENCY TREE CARE
The City Street Department, public utilities, or the State Highway Department may
act to trim or remove trees in emergency situations when a tree or trees have been damaged
by storms or other causes. In these situations, they may resort to severe cutting back of the
• limbs of the street trees but must report all such incidents to the Greencastle Tree Board as
soon as practical after the emergency has past.
SECTION 15 - PRUNING, CORNER CLEARANCE
Owners of trees overhanging a public street or public right -of -way within the city shall
prune the branches so that such branches shall not obstruct the light from any street lamp or
obstruct the view of any street intersection so that there shall be a clear space of fourteen feet
(14') above street surface and of eight feet (3') above the sidewalk surface. Said owners shall
remove all dead, diseased or dangerous trees, or broken or decayed limbs which constitute a
menace to the safety of the public. The city shall have the right to prune any tree or shrub
overhanging the public right -of -way when it interferes with the proper spread of light along
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S the street from a street light or interferes with visibility of any traffic control device or sign
or sight triangle at intersections.
SECTION 16 - DEAD, DISEASED, OR UNSAFE TREE REMOVAL ON
PRIVATE PROPERTY
The Tree Board shall notify in writing the owner of any dead or diseased tree when
such tree constitutes a hazard to life and property, or harbor insects or disease which
constitute a potential threat to other trees within the City. It is the tree owner's responsibility
to take the necessary measures to remove or treat these trees to ensure the safety of the
Greencastle community.
SECTION 17 - REMOVAL OF STUMPS
All stumps of street trees shall be removed below the surface of the ground.
SECTION 18 - INTERFERENCE WITH CITY TREE BOARD
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It shall be unlawful for any person to prevent, delay, or interfere with the City Tree
Board, or any of its agents, while engaging in and about the planting, cultivating, mulching,
pruning, spraying, or removing of any street trees as authorized by this ordinance.
SECTION 1 - ARBORISTS PERMIT
Any person or firm engaging in the business or occupation of pruning, treating, or
removing street trees within the city must first apply for and procure an arborist's permit.
The permit fee of $25.00 will be paid in advance to the Greencastle Clerk /Treasurer. The
permit may be issued once the applicant has filed an application complying with the following:
1. That he /she has adequate knowledge of arboriculture by having an Arborist License
issued by the state of Indiana and /or signing a statement verifying compliance with
® good principles of arborculture; and
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2. That he /she is in possession of liability insurance in the minimum amounts of S3CO
for bodily injury and $50,000 property damage indemnifying the City or any person
injured or damaged resulting from the pursuit from such endeavors as herein described.
The permit is valid for one year unless the Tree Board revokes the permit upon
evidence of the arborist's failure to apply principles of good arboriculture or there has been
cancellation or other termination of any insurance policy upon which the original permit was
awarded. Appeals of this procedure my be submitted to the City Tree Board.
SECTION 20 - REVIEW BY GREENCASTLE CITY COUNCIL
The Citv Council shall have the right to review the conduct acts, and decisions of the
•
City Tree Board. Any person may appeal from any ruling or order of the Cicy Tree Board
to the City Council who may hear the matter and make final decisions.
SECTION 21 - VIOLATION AND PENALTY
Any person who violates any provision of this Ordinance or who fails to comply with
any notice issued pursuant to the provisions of the Ordinance, upon being found in violation,
shall be responsible to pay for damages equal to the appraised value or replacement value of
the trees) and be subject to a fine not to exceed fifty dollars (550) for each separate offense.
Each day during which any violation of the provisions of this Ordinance shall occur or
continue shall be considered a separate offense. Recommendation for enforcement of all fines
will be the responsibility of the Tree Board.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Common Council of the City of Greencastle,
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Indiana this Ilth day of April, 1995. Z L�
Michael M. Harmless, Mayor
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" A T T E S T :
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A p p r o v e d a n d s i g n e d b y m e t h i s �� d a y o f a t
1 �� o ' c l o c k L . m .
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A T T E S T :
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