[Amended 12-15-2014 by Ord. No. 424-14]
Tree replacement shall be provided where the applicant demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Board of Supervisors that additional woodland or tree removal beyond the permitted twenty-five-percent disturbance allowance is necessary to permit development in accordance with Chapter 455, Zoning; where trees within the tree protection zone or riparian buffer zone are removed; or where specimen trees are removed from any location on the site.
A.
For properties two acres in area or greater, replacement plantings
shall be provided at a ratio of:
(1)
One shade tree for each 1,000 square feet of woodland removed beyond
the permitted twenty-five-percent disturbance allowance.
(2)
One shade tree for each tree six inches up to 36 inches dbh removed
within the tree protection zone during the course of project construction.
(3)
Three additional shade trees for each specimen tree 36 inches or
greater dbh removed from any location on the site. This includes trees
located within areas to receive improvements and trees subject to
the permitted twenty-five-percent disturbance allowances.
[Amended 9-21-2009 by Ord. No. 391-09]
B.
For properties that are less than two acres in area, replacement
plantings shall be provided at a ratio of:
(1)
One shade tree for each tree six inches up to 36 inches dbh removed
beyond the permitted twenty-five-percent disturbance allowance.
(2)
One shade tree for each tree six inches up to 36 inches dbh removed
within the tree protection zone during the course of project construction.
(3)
Three additional shade trees for each specimen tree 36 inches or
greater dbh removed from any location on the site.
[Amended 9-21-2009 by Ord. No. 391-09; 12-15-2014 by Ord. No. 424-14]
C.
Replacement planting shall be provided as shade trees, reforestation
planting, or any combination thereof, comprised of the following plant
types:
D.
Shade trees shall be two to 2.5 inches in caliper; evergreen trees shall be eight to 10 feet in height; deciduous understory trees shall be two to 2.5 inches in caliper for single-stemmed trees and eight to 10 feet in height for multi-stemmed trees; and shrubs shall be 24 inches in height. All plants shall conform to the standards contained within § 274-37.
E.
Replacement plantings are in addition to other required plants, such
as street tree, buffer or parking lot plantings, etc.
F.
A chart tabulating the number of trees or area of woodland being
removed and the number and type of replacement plantings shall be
placed on the plans.
G.
Replacement plantings may be placed in any suitable location on the
site, including riparian buffer zones, and may be used to enhance
other requirements, such as buffering. Replacement plantings should
be identified by a symbol or note. Reforestation areas shall be clearly
outlined; individual seedlings need not be shown.
H.
In the event that the applicant demonstrates to the satisfaction
of the Board of Supervisors that constraints incident to the land
itself render it impractical to locate on the lot the required number
of replacement plantings, then, at the election of the Board, the
applicant shall:
Reforestation is encouraged as an option for replacement planting
on those sites large enough to support a minimum reforestation area
of 1/2 acre. Reforestation areas should be designed and placed so
they will mature into healthy woodlands, with priority given to locations
adjacent to existing woodlands, within riparian buffer zones, or where
forest creation is desirable.
A.
Reforestation plantings shall conform to the following:
(1)
Trees shall be container grown, with a minimum height of four to
six feet.
(2)
The trees shall be planted at a rate of 300 trees per acre of reforestation
area, with an on-center spacing of 12 feet.
(3)
The planting mixture shall contain a minimum of 60% native canopy
trees and a maximum of 40% understory tree species.
C.
Planting procedures shall be listed on the plans.
D.
Maintenance and management guidelines shall be provided for reforestation
areas, to ensure their continued survival. The property owner, or
a homeowners' association, is responsible for long-term care and management
of reforestation areas.
E.
Reforestation plans, procedures and management guidelines shall be
submitted to the Township landscape architect for review.
