§ 3.05.04. Vegetation Removal and Protection Standards

A.

During construction, all reasonable steps necessary to prevent the destruction or damaging of vegetation shall be taken, including the installation of protective barriers. Vegetation destroyed or receiving major damage must be replaced by vegetation of equal environmental value, as specified by the County Manager or designee, before occupancy or use, unless approval for their removal has been granted under permit.

B.

During construction, unless otherwise authorized by a vegetation removal permit, no excess soil, additional fill, equipment, liquids, or construction debris shall be placed within the dripline of any vegetation that is required to be preserved in its present location.

C.

Unless otherwise authorized by a vegetation removal permit, no attachments or wires, other than those of a protective or nondamaging nature, shall be attached to any vegetation during construction.

D.

Unless otherwise authorized by a vegetation removal permit, no soil is to be removed from within the drip line of any vegetation that is to remain in its original location.

E.

Areas to be preserved shall be protected during land alteration and construction activities by placing a continuous barrier around the perimeter of the area of vegetation to be preserved. This barrier shall be highly visible and constructed of wood stakes set a maximum of ten (10) feet apart, at a height range of two (2) to four (4) feet, all covered continuously with brightly colored, all-weather mesh material or equal type barrier method. An equivalent method may be substituted with the approval of the County Manager or designee.

F.

When the retention of single trees is required by this LDC, a protective barrier, similar to that required in section 3.05.04 E., shall be placed around the tree at a distance from the trunk of six (6) feet or beyond the drip line, whichever is greater, or as otherwise approved by the County Manager or designee.

G.

Protective barriers shall be installed and maintained for the period of time beginning with the commencement of any phase of land clearing or building operations, and ending with the completion of that phase of the construction work on the site, unless otherwise approved to be removed by the County Manager or designee. All protective barriers shall be installed pursuant to LDC sections 3.05.04 and 4.06.05 E. or other methods approved by the County Manager or designee.

H.

Signage shall be placed around the preserve to identify and protect the preserve in accordance with the following standards:

a.

Signs identifying preserves shall be posted prior to preliminary acceptance for each phase of Final Subdivision Plat (PPL) pursuant to LDC section 10.02.04, or first certificate of occupancy for Site Development Plan, Site Improvement Plans and amendments thereof pursuant to LDC section 10.02.03, whichever is applicable.

b.

Signs identifying preserves shall be placed at the boundary of the preserve, except where a preserve abuts another preserve.

c.

There shall be at least one preserve sign posted every 300 feet, with a minimum of two signs per preserve. However, where a preserve abuts a lake maintenance easement , there shall be at least one preserve sign posted every 1,000 feet, with a minimum of one sign per lake.

d.

Signs identifying preserves shall be a maximum height of four feet and a maximum size of two square feet and otherwise comply with LDC section 5.06.00. Lettering for signs shall be a minimum of two inches in height and the sign copy shall be clearly legible from the edge of preserve as determined by the County Manager or designee.

I.

The applicant for a vegetation removal permit shall, at the time of application, designate representative(s), who shall be responsible for the installation and the maintenance of all tree protection barriers, and for supervising the removal of all existing vegetation permitted to be removed or altered.

(Ord. No. 16-27, § 3.I)