§ 113-3. Definitions.

The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this chapter, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

Arboricultural prescription means any type of site or tree instruction developed by an arborist certified by the International Society of Arboriculture or State Registered Forester that is aimed at preserving trees. It is required for trees with 20 percent or greater CRZ/SRP impact. Silvicultural prescription and arboricultural prescription have the same meaning.

Boundary tree means a tree six inches DBH or larger located on a property adjacent to a permitting property whose critical root zone or canopy extends into that permitting property.

Caliper means the diameter of the trunk of a replacement tree (new nursery stock) measured six inches above the ground line for trees of four-inch caliper or smaller, and measured 12 inches above the ground line for trees larger than four inches in caliper.

Canopy coverage means an area of healthy tree cover, measured in square feet of projection of the healthy tree canopy onto the ground.

Certified arborist means an arborist certified by the International Society of Arboriculture as possessing the minimum level of competency required to practice arboriculture.

City Arborist means the Community Development Director or his/her designee responsible for administering the provisions of this chapter.

Critical Root Zone ("CRZ") means a circular area surrounding a tree whose radius is equivalent to one foot for every inch in DBH.

Damaged tree means a tree that has 25 percent or more of the critical root zone disturbed.

Destroyed tree means a tree which has damage to any of its parts causing the tree's survival beyond three growing seasons to be unlikely as determined by the City Arborist.

Destruction includes, but is not limited to, excessive topping out, girdling, limbing, chopping or otherwise cutting a tree to the extent that its demise is imminent. Any actions resulting in the death of a tree.

Diameter at breast height (DBH) means the diameter of a tree trunk measured in inches at a height of 4.5 feet above the ground line for individual trunks, and at the narrowest point below the fork for trees forked below 4.5 feet.

Dripline means a vertical line extending downward from the outermost tips of a tree's branches, creating a more or less circular projection on the ground.

Land disturbing activity means any activity that disturbs the soil, removes woody vegetation, or results in soil erosion from water or wind and the movement of sediments into state waters or onto lands within the state including, but not limited to, excavating, filling, grading, grubbing, root or stump removal, trenching, or transporting of land, but not including agricultural practices. Any activity requiring a development permit.

Large tree means a tree expected to grow to a minimum height of 40 feet at maturity under urban conditions.

Medium tree means a tree expected to grow to a maximum height of 25 to 40 feet at maturity under urban conditions.

Protected tree means any tree six inches DBH or larger that is healthy and structurally sound and has been conserved or planted to meet the tree ordinance requirements.

Small tree means a tree expected to grow to a maximum height of 25 feet at maturity under urban conditions.

Specimen tree means any tree, excluding loblolly pines, which qualifies for special consideration for conservation due to its size, type, condition, location or historical significance. The following two criteria are used by the Community Development Director to identify specimen trees. Both the size and condition criteria must be met for a tree to qualify.

(1)

Size criteria.

a.

Overstory tree: 28-inch diameter or larger.

b.

Understory tree: 12-inch diameter or larger.

(2)

Condition criteria. Life expectancy of greater than 15 years. Relatively sound and solid trunk with no excessive decay. No more than one major and several minor dead limbs. No major insect or pathological problem.

Structural root plate (SRP) means the zone of rapid root taper that provides the tree stability against wind throw. The radius of the root plate is proportional to the diameter (DBH) of a tree, using standard root plate measurements/calculations.

Structural Root Plate Table

DBH	8"	16"	32"	48"
SRP (radius')	5.5'	8'	10.5'	12'

 

Tree disturbance means any land activity that has the potential to change the characteristics of soil, vegetation, growing space or environment within a tree protection zone OR any activity that has the potential to damage a tree's roots trunk or crown. Tree impact means any disturbance that proposes or has the potential to affect 25 percent or more of the tree protection zone.

Tree protection zone (TPZ) means the area encompassing the entirety of a protected tree, including the soil to a depth of three feet within the CRZ and the tree's trunk and crown.

(Ord. No. 21-2012, pt. 1, 8-6-2012; Ord. No. 12-2018 , § I, 10-1-2018)