§ 8.12.120. Tree replacement/tree replacement fee.

A.

For each qualifying tree felled to maintain or develop commercial, industrial, multiple-family, community service, or community facilities land uses, one five-gallon minimum size replacement tree of a tree species listed within subsection B of this section, except as provided within subsections C, D, E and F of this section, shall be planted by the permittee within twelve (12) months thereafter or within one year of occupancy, whichever occurs first. Replacement trees shall be planted on the site where the tree or trees were felled. Any exceptions to the aforementioned tree planting requirement involving tree felling permits shall be submitted in writing to the planning commission, the planning director or to the town manager, as applicable, at or before the time that the tree felling permit application is acted upon. For development projects requiring a town-approved landscape plan that includes a significant percentage of replacement trees required by this section, the planning director, based upon a written review provided by a tree expert or a licensed landscape architect, may grant an exception to the number of replacement trees. Property owners shall receive tree planting in lieu credit for evidence protected natural saplings with a diameter between one inch to three (3) inches and growing on the site for no more than fifty (50) percent of the total number of qualifying trees authorized to be felled.

B.

The following is a list of suggested restocking species:

1.

Conifer Species.

a.

Ponderosa Pine, Pinus ponderosa .

b.

Sugar Pine, Pinus lambertiana .

c.

Douglas Fir, Psuedosuga menziezii .

d.

White Fir, Abies concolor .

e.

Incense Cedar, Calocedrus decurrens .

f.

Coast Redwood, Sequoia sempervirens .

g.

Sierra Redwood, Sequoiadendron giganteum .

2.

Hardwood Species.

a.

Black Oak, Quercus kellogii .

b.

Canyon Live Oak, Quercus chrysolepis .

c.

Blue Oak, Quercus douglasii .

d.

California Valley Oak, Quercus lobata .

e.

Scrub Oak, Quercus dumosa .

f.

Big Leaf Maple, Acer macrophylum .

g.

Western Dogwood, Cornus nuttallii .

C.

There shall be established a tree replacement fund for the purpose of financing the replacement of felled trees.

D.

Whenever a tree felling permit is issued for the felling of trees on property that cannot accommodate the planting of replacement trees, the permittee shall pay an in-lieu fee identified in the town master fee schedule resolution for each qualifying tree to be felled.

E.

All fees collected pursuant to subsection D shall be deposited in the tree replacement fund and shall be used exclusively to plant and maintain trees on town- and/or publicly-owned property, or for the town to purchase, lease or otherwise acquire land or recorded rights for the planting and maintenance of trees.

F.

Tree felling activities associated with the maintenance and development of single-family residential land uses or conducted pursuant to Section 8.12.090 B.4 shall be exempt from the requirements of this section relating to tree replacement requirements and the payment of an in-lieu fee.

(Ord. No. 565, § 5, 12-13-2016; Ord. No. 482, § 2, 5-27-2008)