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• Replacement trees must be at least 2.5 inches for deciduous trees and eight (8) feet in height for coniferous <br />trees. <br />Plymouth <br />• Significant tree is considered eight (8) inches for deciduous and four (4) inches for coniferous trees. <br />• On residential development, can disturb /remove up to fifty percent (50 %) of total DBH on site. <br />• On commercial development, can disturb /remove up to seventy -five percent (75 %) of total DBH on site. <br />• Disturbance /removals beyond those thresholds require replacement of 1.25 inches for every 1 inch <br />removed /disturbed or pay $125.00 restitution. <br />• Disturbance /removals for water treatment ponds, public trails /sidewalks, and right -of -way for arterial and <br />major collector roads through developments are excluded from replacement calculations. <br />• Replacement trees are credited toward required landscaping for project. <br />As is evidenced from these summaries, tree preservation standards are fairly common for metro area communities. <br />Standards vary from fairly generic to complex. Ramsey's standards appear to fall somewhere in between. <br />Section 117 -327 (h) (11) of City Code pertains to 'tree preservation tree density standard calculation' and reads as <br />follows: <br />a. All multifamily residential developments shall retain 40 percent of the inches of tree DBH existing on the site <br />after subdivision. <br />b. If in excess of 60 percent of desirable trees are removed from the plat due to construction, they shall be replaced, <br />on a one -to -one basis, in addition to the required plantings specified within the applicable zoning district. <br />This has always been interpreted as pertaining only to multifamily developments. However, b. does not specifically <br />reference any particular zoning district. Thus, it could be interpreted as being applicable in every zoning district. <br />Staff would like feedback from the Board regarding their interpretation of this section of City Code (and it's original <br />intent) as to whether its applicable 'across the board' or only to multifamily developments. <br />Recommendation: <br />If the Board believes that the intent was to be applied to all zoning districts, than there is a replacement standard <br />already in City Code. If that is the case, the Board may wish to consider several items: <br />• Should the term 'desirable trees' be replaced with 'significant trees' since 'desirable trees' is not defined? <br />• Should there be considerations given to exclude trees removed for certain aspects of a project (e.g. for water <br />treatment ponds, trails /sidewalks, main roads, etc)? <br />• Should the required replacement trees be in addition to required landscaping (as is stated currently) or count <br />toward required landscaping? <br />If the Board believes that the intent was to be applied only to multifamily developments, the Board may wish to <br />consider the following: <br />• Should this replacement standard be expanded to apply to all districts? <br />• Whether it expanded or not, should this section be amended to clarify exactly where it is applicable? <br />• One paragraph refers to retaining a percentage of total DBH inches while the other references retaining a <br />percentage of total trees, should these both reference the same thing (i.e. either total DBH inches or trees)? <br />EPB Action: <br />Based on discussion. <br />Ramsey Tree Preservation Ordinance <br />Attachments <br />