Agenda - Council - 09/27/1994 - Laserfiche WebLink

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TREE CONSERVATION POLICY CITY OF RAMSEY COUNTY OF ANOKA STATE OF MINNESOTA I. Ptlrpose. The purpose of this policy is to preserve and protect significant trees or stands of trees wN}se loss due to land disturbances would affect the character of neighborhoods, subdivisionS, public or semi-public project, commercial developments and industrial developmenls and/or the composition of Ramsey's tree cover and forest health. II. Applica~ilit_v, This policy shall apply to any person or entity that would disturb land areas and ii'npact significant trees or stands of trees in neighborhood, subdivisions, commercial ~building developments, public and sen'fi-public projects such as streets, utilities and parks whether disturbed by a public agency or private developer; except where the City Council ma~, waive these requirements where there would be a greater public need for the project thanlto meet the requirements of this policy. A public hearing shall be held before declaring su{zh a waiver. The property owners within three hundred fifty (350') feet of the site shall be )otified at least ten (10) days before the hearing. The terms and provisions of the Tree Cofiservation Policy in conjunction with the City Code shall apply to all activity which requi~s the issuance of any permit which involves land disturbance. r, III..DefinitiOns All words in these standards have their customary dictionary definition except as s~ecifically defined herein. The word "shall" is mandatory and the word "should" is ?rmissive. Technical terms used in this Policy are defined in Appendix A. BUILDABL~ AREA - the portion of a lot which is not located within any minimum required yard,, landscape strip/area, or buffer; that portion of a lot wherein a building may be located. CITY FORESTER/TREE INSPECTOR - the agent of the City of Ramsey having the primary respr}nsibilities of administration and enforcemeni of the Tree Preservation Policy. CROWN DR{Ip LINE - a vertical line extending from the outer edges of a tree's branch tips down to the ground. DBH - diameter-at-breast-height is a standard measure of tree size, and is a tree trunk diameter mea~sured in inches at a height of four and one-half (4 1/2') feet above ground. If a tree splits i,hto multiple trunks below four and one-half (4 1/2') feet, then the trunk is measured at i~s most narrow point beneath the split. TREE DISEASE CONTROL ZONE - area designated as oak wilt control or Dutch elm disease contrdJ as referenced in City Code 5.14.02. PROTECTION ZONE - all lands that fall outside the buildable area of a p~u'cel. SIGNIFICANT TREES - any deciduous hardwood tree measuring three (3") inches in DBH or great,,r, or a coniferous tree measuring four (4') feet in height or greater. SPECIMEN TIREE OR STAND - any tree or grouping of trees which has been determined to be of a higl'} value by the City Forester/Tree Inspector because of its species, size, age, or other profeJsional criteria. STRUCTURE'- anything manufactured, consu'ucted or erected which is normally attached to or positione~ on land, including portable structures. 2