Planting or removing a public shade tree shall require permission
of the Commission as follows:
A. Planting of a new public shade tree requires consultation with the
Commission, which will assist in matters of species selection and
location in the field.
B. Removal of a public shade tree requires a permit, preceded by a duly
advertised public meeting following which the Commission shall grant
or deny the request for tree removal by a majority vote of the Commission.
Unless otherwise approved by the Commission, each tree removed must
be replaced within one year of the date of its removal.
C. The cost of planting and removing public shade trees located along
public rights-of-way shall be paid by the owner of the real estate
abutting the public shade tree, as required by the Pennsylvania Borough
Code.
The notice for a public meeting to consider planting or removing
public shade trees shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation
once a week for two weeks immediately preceding the time of the meeting.
The meeting notice shall specify the action proposed to be taken and
shall specify the location of the trees proposed to be removed. The
hearing shall be held no later than 60 days following receipt of the
written request for removal of trees.
A permit shall be required to remove or prune any shade tree.
However, no permit shall be required for pruning branches of two inch
diameter or less to gain clearance for sidewalks or streets. Requests
for permits should be directed to the Shade Tree Commission, with
no fee therefor.
A public shade tree may be removed without a public hearing
under an emergency. An emergency exists when a tree poses an immediate
and specific threat or hazard to public safety, pedestrian or vehicular
traffic, or property. An emergency removal must be agreed to by two
members of the Commission, or if that number of the Commission is
unavailable, one member of the Commission with the consent of the
Chief of Police. When such a removal is authorized by the Commission,
the Commission shall prepare a written report documenting the circumstances
of and reasons for the emergency tree removal. That report shall be
filed in the Borough office.