Brian Wolyniak Urban Forester Penn State Extension ORDINANCES TO PROTECT AND ENHANCE TREE POPULATIONS.

Brian WolyniakUrban ForesterPenn State Extension

ORDINANCES TO PROTECT AND

ENHANCE TREE POPULATIONS

Managing Natural Resources:

A Guide for Municipal Commissions

Available online:

pubs.cas.psu.edu

RESOURCES

Poor administration

Poor decision-making

Poor site analysis and design

Poor maintenance

URBAN FOREST PROBLEMS

Lack of commitment

Lack of community awareness and support

Low funding and priority

Police power Authority to protect safety, health, and welfare of all people

State codes and legislation establish powers of municipal governments

Ordinances provide legal standingMore difficult to change than a resolution

ORDINANCES

Riparian, fl oodplain, steep slope, and wetland Restricts areas from

development, grading, and vegetation removal

Stormwater Regulates impervious

surfaces, peak flows, and landscaping

Timber harvest Regulates timber harvest

activities

Zoning Regulates density and type of

land use, including tree and natural resource protection

Subdivision and land development Procedural and design

standards for development Can specify placement of trees

and landscaping, sidewalks, etc.

Tree preservation Preserves and protects trees

and their growing environment in development

TYPES OF ORDINANCES

Street/shade tree Protects and enhances municipal-

owned trees on streets and in parks and other municipal-owned space

Manages hazardous or nuisance trees

Manages disease and insect problems

Usually only applies to public property

Establishes and provides authority of shade tree commission

TYPES OF ORDINANCES

Location Where in municipal code

Purpose Why needed, what does

Defi nitions

Establishment and authority of tree commission

Completion and review of community tree plan

Duties/Authority Who - urban forester/arborist

STREET TREE ORDINANCE CONTENTS

Permits Removal, pruning, planting

Permit process Administrative or tree

commission

Arboriculture practices Appendix

Public safety/nuisance private and public

property

Protection of trees Also use zoning

ordinance

Appeal procedure commission or other

Enforcement and restitution

STREET TREE ORDINANCE CONTENTS

Brian [email protected] Forester 412-473-2540Penn State ExtensionAllegheny County Offi ce