[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Pine Plains 6-24-2010 by L.L. No. 2-2010. Amendments noted where applicable.]
This chapter shall be known as the "Pine Plains Tree Law."
The Town Board enacts this chapter to achieve the following
purposes:
A.
Provide a mechanism for the removal and pruning of trees on public
and private lands which impact public highways and other public property
in the Town, which pose a hazard to the general public;
B.
Establish and maintain the maximum sustainable amount of tree cover
on public and private lands which impact public highways and other
public property in the Town;
C.
Help ensure that trees which pose a hazard to the general public
are removed and/or pruned in accordance with sound arboricultural
practices;
D.
Protect and enhance the character of the Town by assuring that decisions
regarding the removal and pruning of trees are consistent within sound
arboriculture practices; and
E.
Preserve the natural beauty and community character of the Town.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
The cultivation of trees and shrubs, including the study
of how they grow and respond to cultural practices and the environment,
as well as aspects of cultivation such as selection, planting, care,
and removal.
A trained specialist certified by the International Society
of Arboriculture or one of its chapters or other nationally recognized
arboricultural organizations with expertise in tree management.
A measurement or projection of the total crown size that
a tree or trees in a specified area will attain at maturity.
All portions of a tree, excluding the trunk and roots, such
as branches and foliage.
The diameter of a tree trunk at the height of 4.5 feet above
ground.
The areas on private land that adjoin Town, county or state
roads and over which the Town has jurisdiction or rights to use or
control for purposes of protecting the health, safety and welfare
of pedestrians and motor vehicles utilizing the highways.
Any tree which constitutes a public nuisance by virtue of
having an infectious disease or insect problem, being dead or dying,
having limbs that obstruct streetlights, traffic lights, etc., or
a tree that poses a threat to public safety from falling limbs.
A tree identified by inventory, or other study of the Town's
Conservation Advisory Council, which has certain unique or noteworthy
characteristics or values, including endangered species, rarity, age
or historical significance to make that tree deserving of special
protection under this chapter.
A tree on publicly owned land (such as library and school
grounds and grounds of municipal buildings) which is not parkland.
A tree growing within the boundaries of any municipally owned
highway and on any private property within any easement or right-of-way
of a municipal highway not owned in fee simple title by that municipality.
A mature tree (not a heritage tree) which is an excellent
example of a species in structure and aesthetics with a minimum diameter
of 18 inches at 4.5 feet dbh above ground or a minimum crown spread
of 15 feet.
Severe cutting back of limbs within the tree's crown to such
an extent that the tree is disfigured by loss of its natural form.
Any removal, breaking, pruning, destruction or injuring of
any tree covered by the provisions of this chapter.
A.
The Town, through its Highway Department, shall have the authority
to prune the branches of any roadside tree, or any tree overhanging
any street or right-of-way within the Town, so that the branches shall
not obstruct the light from any street lamp or obstruct the view of
any street intersection and so that there shall be a clear space of
15 feet above the surface of the street or sidewalk.
B.
The Town shall have the authority to prune or remove all dead, diseased
or dangerous trees or broken or decayed limbs of any roadside tree
or any tree on private and public property which constitute a hazard
to the safety of the public. The Town shall have the authority to
prune any tree on private property when it interferes with the proper
spread of light along the street from a streetlight or interferes
with visibility of any traffic control device or sign.
C.
The Town shall have the authority to cause the removal, pruning or
treatment of any dead, diseased or other roadside tree or any tree
on private property within the Town when such tree constitutes a hazard
to public highways, public ways or other public property within the
Town. The Town, through its Highway Superintendent or Town Clerk,
will notify in writing the owners of such tree. A copy of said notice
shall be provided to the Town Board and the Town's Conservation Advisory
Council. The notice shall inform the property owner of the need for
removal, pruning and/or treatment of the tree, as the case may be.
Removal, or treatment or pruning of the tree to remedy the hazardous
condition shall be performed by the property owner at his or her own
expense within 60 days after the date of service of notice unless
a shorter time period is specified in the notice. Upon completion
of the removal, or treatment or pruning to remedy the hazardous condition,
the property owner shall notify the Highway Superintendent or the
Town Clerk, in writing, of the completion of the work so that the
Highway Superintendent can inspect the work. In the event of the failure
of the owner to comply with such provisions, the Town shall have the
authority to remove, treat or prune such trees and may, in its discretion,
charge the cost of the removal, treatment or pruning as a municipal
lien to be levied as a special assessment or tax against the owner
of land upon which the tree was situated. Notices pursuant to this
section shall be deemed to be given when delivered personally to the
property owner or when sent by certified mail, return receipt requested,
to the address of the owner of the property as shown on the latest
tax assessment roll.
A.
In performing its functions, the Town Board, and its Highway Superintendent,
shall, where practicable, consult with the Town's Conservation Advisory
Council (CAC). The CAC may, from time to time, provide the Town and
the Highway Superintendent with a list of trees within the Town which
present a hazard to the public and which are in need of removal or
pruning. The CAC shall also provide the Town and the Highway Superintendent
with a list of any heritage trees within the Town which it has identified.
B.
The CAC, upon receipt of any notification to a property owner for
removal, pruning, or treatment of any dead, diseased roadside tree
or other tree on private property within the Town, may, in its discretion,
inspect the tree in question and make recommendations to the owner
and the Highway Superintendent regarding the need for removal and
the manner in which such removal should occur. The CAC shall also,
where appropriate, make recommendations to the property owner and
the Highway Superintendent for pruning and treatment of said tree
if it determines that removal of the tree or trees in question is
not necessary by application of sound arboricultural practices.
C.
Should any dispute arise with regard to the need for the removal
of a tree or the method of removal, pruning or treatment of a tree,
the property owner may retain the services of an arborist to provide
the necessary advice and recommendations to the Town and to the Highway
Department. The Town may, in its discretion, hire its own arborist
to review the property owner's arborist report, or to otherwise make
recommendations to the Town Board with regard to the removal, treatment
and/or pruning of the tree. Any dispute regarding the removal, treatment
and/or pruning of the tree shall be resolved by the Town Board.
D.
The Town Highway Department personnel may, from time to time, be
trained and guided in correct pruning techniques by a professional
arborist retained by the Town.
A.
A tree canopy should, where possible, be preserved intact except
where it obstructs light from street lamps or views from street intersections.
B.
The space 15 feet from the ground may be kept free of branches above
the street and sidewalk.
C.
All trees should be removed or pruned as the case may be, in accordance
with standards of good arboricultural practice.
D.
Neither topping nor the removal of all limbs on one side of the tree
is permitted, except in cases where it is determined by an arborist
retained by the Town that such topping or removal is necessary to
remove an existing hazard or preserve the health of the tree.
E.
Except in cases of emergency, heritage trees shall be removed or
pruned only after the Town consults with an arborist. The Town shall
follow the recommendations of the arborist in the tree removal and/or
pruning.
F.
Cut branches and/or felled trees on private property shall become
the personal property of the property owner. However, the Town shall
have the discretion to remove any cut branches and/or trees from private
property if the same are not removed from the private property within
a period of two weeks after cutting is complete if in the opinion
of the Town Highway Superintendent the cut branches and/or trees constitute
a hazard to the public or interfere with the use of the public right-of-way.
The Highway Department shall make best efforts to consult with
public utility authorities prior to its seasonal pruning along power
line easements. The utility shall be provided with a copy of this
chapter, and the Town shall make best efforts to have the public utility
adhere to the goals and procedures set forth in this chapter.
A.
Any person or entity who or which violates any of the provisions
of this chapter shall be deemed and held to be guilty of an offense
and, upon conviction, shall be fined a sum not to exceed $250, or
imprisoned for not more than 15 days, or both, for each offense. Each
week during which the violation shall continue shall be held and deemed
to be a separate offense.
B.
The Code Enforcement Officer shall have the authority to issue appearance
tickets and prosecute violations of this chapter. In addition, appearance
tickets may also be issued by the Police Department and prosecution
of such offenses may also be made by the Town Attorney or Attorney
to the Town.
C.
In addition to criminal remedies, the Town shall have the right to
seek injunctive relief in a court of competent jurisdiction against
any person violating the provisions of this chapter.
