Agenda - Parks and Recreation Commission - 09/08/1994

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· 2 TREE CONSERVATION POLICY CITY OF RAMSEY COUNTY OF ANOKA STATE OF MINNESOTA I. purpose. The purpose of this policy is to preserve and protect significant trees or stands of trees whc~se loss due to land disturbances would affect the character of neighborhoods, subdivisionS, public or semi-public project, commercial developments and industrial developments. II. Applicab~ility. This policy shall apply to any person or entity that would disturb land areas and impact significant trees or stands of trees in neighborhood, subdivisions, commercial building developments, public and semi-public projects such as streets, utilities and parks whether disturbed by a public agency or private developer; except where the Ci,5, Council ma~ waive these requirements where there would be a greater public need for the project than rto meet the requirements of this policy. A public hearing shall be held before declaring such a waiver. The property owners within three hundred fifty (350') feet of the site shall be ~notified at least ten (I0) days before the hearing. The terms and provisions of the Tree Conservation Policy in conjunction with the City Code shall apply to all activity which requi~s the issuance of any permit which involves land disturbance. II1. ~ All words in these standards have their customary dictionary definition except as specifically defined herein. The word "shall" is mandatory and the word "should" is permissive. Technical terms used in this Policy are defined in Appendix A. BUILDABLE 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 responsibilities of administration and enforcemen~ of the Tree Preservation Policy. CROWN DRIP 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 measured in inches at a height of four and one-half (4 1/2') feet above ground. If a tree splits into multiple trunks below four and one-half (4 1/2') feet, then the trunk is measured at its most narrow point beneath the split. TREE DISEASE CONTROL ZONE - area designated as oak wilt control or Dutch elm disease control as referenced in City Code 5.14.02. PROTECTION ZONE - all lands that fall outside the buildable area of a parcel. SIGNIFICANT TREES - any deciduous hardwood tree measuring twelve (3") inches in DBH or greater, or a coniferous tree measuring foul' (4')i~eet in height or greater. SPECIMEN TREE OR STAND - any tree or grouping of'trees which has been determined to be of a high value by the City Forester/Tree Inspector because of its species, size, age, or other prof~essional criteria. STRUCTURE - anything manufactured, constructed or erected which is normally attached to or positiofied on land, including portable structures. 3'7