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planting requirements used to include a specific number of trees and shrubs; now, it's based on <br />canopy coverage. <br /> <br />Environmental Specialist Bacon asked if there was a way to use variances from the planning <br />requirements to establish a planting budget to use trees to implement desirable species, similar to <br />park dedication fees that are used for specific functions. He asked if exceptions to the planting <br />requirements could be used to establish funds or incentives to include trees similar to Dutch Elm <br />resistant Elms. Chairperson McDilda stated that he felt it was a wonderful suggestion and that <br />would be a task for the EPB to take on for potential future meetings. Board Member Max <br />concurred. Environmental Specialist Bacon stated that a municipal inventory could fit in that <br />same category. <br /> <br />Chairperson McDilda noted that Subd. 9 (Replacement of Trees) states that a developer shall be <br />required to maintain trees for one year after the trees are planted. However, for multi-family <br />developments, developers are responsible for trees for a two year period from the time of <br />planting. In single family developments, many times the planting requirement is satisfied by an <br />individual home owner. <br /> <br />Chairperson McDilda stated requirements are already in place that exceed one year. Zoning & <br />Recycling Coordinator Anderson explained that many times, the cost is passed onto the <br />homeowner. Trees are typically warranteed by the nursery. Zoning & Recycling Coordinator <br />Anderson stated that for somebody who is going to put the money into a tree, it may be in their <br />best interest to ask for their warrantee to be honored. <br /> <br />Board Member Freeburg asked if there was anything about commercial properties in the <br />ordinance. Zoning & Recycling Coordinator Anderson stated that it was covered elsewhere in <br />City Code. Board Member Bentz asked if he went out and bought a tree and it died because of <br />inappropriate care, whose responsibility is it to honor a warrantee. <br /> <br />Board Member Max stated that the advantage of being the developer, a homeowner may not go <br />back to the nursery, a developer may require the nursery to honor their warrantee. He stated that <br />he felt that developers had more clout than a homeowner to replace landscaping inventory. <br /> <br />Board Member Bentz asked if there was a minimum size. Zoning & Recycling Coordinator <br />Anderson stated that there is a one- inch caliper. Environmental Specialist Bacon stated that the <br />bigger tree has more transplanting difficulties. <br /> <br />Board Member Max stated that a one-inch tree could catch up with bigger trees in a couple of <br />growing seasons. Environmental Specialist Bacon stated that most people plant 2-inch trees. <br />Zoning & Recycling Coordinator Anderson stated that Environmental Specialist Bacon does tree <br />inspections. Zoning & Recycling Coordinator Anderson stated that usually in single family <br />developments, the City doesn't follow up to verify that trees are still alive after one year; the City <br />does do though for commercial. He stated that the City doesn't have that luxury with new <br />residential developments. He stated that it is easier up front in working with a developer to <br />insure that it gets done, rather than asking a homeowner to give the City more money to insure <br />that the tree is cared for. <br /> <br />Environmental Policy Board / October 3, 2005 <br /> Page 13 of 16 <br /> <br /> <br />