§ 160-56. Tree protection standards.

A. 

General requirements.

(1) 

Grade changes and excavations shall not encroach upon the tree protection zone.

(2) 

The area within the TPZ shall not be built upon, nor shall any materials be stored there either temporarily or permanently. Vehicles and equipment shall not be parked in the TPZ.

(3) 

When tree stumps are located within 10 feet of the tree protection zone the stumps shall be removed by means of a stump grinder to minimize the effect on surrounding root systems.

(4) 

Tree roots which must be severed shall be cut by a backhoe or similar equipment aligned radially to the tree. This method reduces the lateral movement of the roots during excavation, which if done by other methods could damage the intertwined roots of adjacent trees.

(5) 

Within four hours of any severance of roots, all tree roots that have been exposed and/or damaged shall be trimmed cleanly and covered temporarily with peat moss, moist burlap or other moist biodegradable material to keep them from drying out until permanent cover can be installed.

(6) 

Sediment, retention and detention basins shall not discharge into the tree protection site.

(7) 

Sediment, retention and detention basins shall not be located within the tree protection zone.

B. 

The tree protection zone requirements.

(1) 

Prior to construction, the tree protection zone shall be delineated by the following methods:

(a) 

The tree protection zone that is delineated on the site prior to construction shall conform to the approved development plans.

(b) 

All trees scheduled to remain shall be marked; where groups of trees exist, only the trees on the edge need to be marked.

(2) 

A forty-eight-inch-high fence mounted on steel posts, located eight feet on center, shall be placed along the boundary of the tree protection zone; when the fence has been installed, it shall be inspected and approved by the Municipal Arborist prior to commencing clearing and further construction; the fencing along the tree protection zone shall be maintained until all work/construction has been completed; and damages to the protective fencing shall be placed and repaired before further construction shall begin.

(3) 

In addition to the tree protection zone, trees may be left standing as protection between the trunks of the trees to be retained and the limits of grading. When additional trees are used as protection, the tree protection zone on the approved plan shall be marked in the field so that the additional buffer area is delineated. When this method of protection is used, these additional trees shall be removed at the time of completion of the project.

(4) 

Trees being removed shall not be felled, pushed or pulled into a tree protection zone or into trees that are retained.

C. 

Retaining walls.

(1) 

When the original grade can not be retained at the tree protection zone line, a retaining wall shall be constructed outside of the tree protection zone; the retaining wall shall be designed to comply with the township standards for retaining walls.

(2) 

In addition to the above, the following methods shall be used to ensure survival of the tree:

(a) 

The top of the wall shall be four inches above the finish grade line.

(b) 

The wall shall be constructed of large stones, brick, building tile, concrete blocks or treated wood beams not less than six inches by six inches; a means for drainage through the wall shall be provided so water will not accumulate on either side of the wall; weep holes shall be required with any wall.

(c) 

Any severed roots as a result of excavation shall be trimmed so that their edges are smooth and are cut back to a lateral root if exposed.

(d) 

A layer of clean stone (sized 3/4 inch to one inch) shall be placed one foot out from the wall to aid in drainage.

D. 

Pruning methods. All final cuts shall be made sufficiently close to the trunk or parent limb but without cutting into the branch collar or leaving a protruding stub, according to the National Arborist Association standards. All necessary pruning cuts must be made to prevent bark from being torn from the tree and to facilitate rapid healing. Flush cuts are unacceptable.

E. 

Fertilization methods.

(1) 

All trees which have experienced any disturbance or have had damages to the roots or branches shall be fertilized.

(2) 

Trees shall be fertilized in early fall (September-October) or mid-spring (April-May). Fall applications are preferred.

(3) 

Fertilizer shall be broadcast over the soil surface in an area twice the size of the tree protection zone at the rates given in Subsection E(5) below. A minimum of 1,000 square feet per tree will receive fertilization.

(4) 

Fertilizer grade shall have approximately three parts nitrogen to one parts phosphorus and potassium (3 to 1 to 1 ratio).

(5) 

Fertilizer shall be applied at a rate equivalent to one pound nitrogen per 1,000 square feet.

	Example:	How much 20-8-8 fertilizer needed to apply one pound nitrogen over 1,000 square feet
		Need 1 lb. nitrogen
		.20	x=1
			x=1
			20
			x = 5 lbs.
	5 lbs. 20-8-8 should be broadcast over a 1,000 square foot area

F. 

Trenching and tunneling.

(1) 

If there is no alternative but to locate a utility line through a TPZ, tunneling shall be used instead of trenching, except where, in the opinion of the Municipal Arborist, survival of the tree would not be affected by either method. The Municipal Arborist shall recommend the most desirable location for the utility line.

(2) 

Trenches shall be filled as soon as possible, and tamped lightly to avoid air spaces.

Amended 6-20-1989 by Ord. No. 268